Learning to Make a Difference

Mom and I were really uncertain about what we planned to write about today for the quarterly Blog the Change for Animals. We have lots of causes we believe in but we have written about them before. But today we saw an article about a really neat Summer Camp opportunity for kids at a Rescue in Washington State called Kitsap. We just happened to see about it on Twitter when it was retweeted by our friends at @WineCountryDog.

Mom and I think this is an incredible idea and we hope more rescue organizations are doing programs like this. They could very well be doing them and we just don't know. Why do we think this is important? Because this planet's future depends on us teaching the youth about what is important. -- learning to give back, the value of service, helping the less fortunate. Most of the ills of society are based on selfishness and greed pure and simple.

And to bring us back to the topic at hand, mom and me particularly feel that educating young people about the plight of homeless pets, what it takes to care for them, how valuable they are to teach us about love and humanity, the importance of spay, neuter and trap and release programs, and why adoption is so critical is priceless. That's why we think Be The Change for Animals is so important.

A Kitsap Camp Volunteer from the Kitsap Blog

Thanks primarily to social media, we are finding that we all CAN make a significant difference. World governments have changed and even in this country people have made a real difference by standing up AGAINST big business and FOR issues that need to be discussed. This means that the call to action on our part is more significant than ever and we can no longer sit back and think we can't make a difference.

On this day that has been set aside to write and discuss issues that are critical to supporting animals in our society, let's remember we CAN make a difference now more than ever.

"I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. "God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?" God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. I have done something," He replied. "I created you." 

                               ~The Animals' Savior Copyright Jim Willis 1999

#Lub2Rock Adoption Option Redux and Saturday Blog Hop

Last night I got to be an Adoption Jockey again for #Lub2Roc k Adoption Option sponsored by the Mattie Dog Foundation. The Shibbering Cheetos were on hand and there was overflowing bacon beer and bacon and quizzes with prizes.

I had all my rescue pets selected and the tweets all ready before the pawty so I could just paste them in Twitter and Facebook so I got through all 15 of them. It was so hard to choose the animals to feature and even harder not to run down and adopt them!

Won't you help get the word out about these very adoptable pets in Virginia? I am going to spend a little time talking about the rescue outfits they come from too.

The first few doggies came from BROOD. Isn't that a cool name for a Rescue? It stands for Basset Rescue of the Old Dominion (that's Furginia for those pals not in the know). Mom found out about this group because she met one of their supporters through her job and nothing having to do with doggies. Nice coincidence!

BROOD is a nonprofit animal welfare organization run solely by volunteers for the welfare of abandoned basset hounds. BROOD’s mission is to locate abandoned basset hounds, provide appropriate interim foster and veterinarian care (including spaying/neutering) for them, and place them in qualified permanent homes. Adoptable bassets cared for by BROOD are from shelters and pounds, or are strays. They have a Facebook page. In November they are waiving adoption fees for all dogs 8 and over!

Georgette is a 5 year old Basset mix and will steal your heart.

Dapper Jax and Lady Jax are a senior Basset pair.

Emerson is a senior Basset with lots of love to give.

I also featured some doggies from Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of the German Shepherd Dog. They provide a safe haven for German Shepherds (and, sometimes, other breeds/mixes) who are left in shelters to await uncertain fate; are owner surrenders (moving, illness, divorce, death, etc.); or are victims of abuse or neglect. They adopt dogs to loving, responsible and secure homes, typically, in Virginia and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., area.  In the eight plus years that we have been in existence, we have found homes for over 2,600 deserving dogs, 247 in 2009 alone.

Java is an 8 year old female, fun loving GSD.

Alias is a GSD former street dog  Gotta read his bio!

Bobby is a GSD who loves to play ball. This fellow had a tough life.

I couldn't forget the kitties. The first group of kitties came from a terrific organization in Hampton, Virginia that has been rescuing kitties for 29 years called the Cat Corner. They are an independent non-profit no-kill shelter which provides lifetime care for its resident cats and offers them for adoption to suitable homes. They love to see their kitties adopted, but their first concern is  the cats' welfare. Their goal is to find each of their cats a home that provides love, care, and permanence. 

Lucille aka Lucy is a super playful female orange tabby.
 
Jonesy is a short haired/orange mix kitty who will purr his way into your heart.

Ninja is a black long-haired mix female lap cat.

Misty is a lovely special needs short haired mix. She has a heart condition and needs to take meds but if you watch her video, you will fall in love with her.

Last time I was an AJ I featured a few other doggies from the next rescue, SEEVA GRREAT. Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training is based out of the town we live in, Yorktown, Virginia that has been rescuing Goldens for 20 years with more than 1,000 rescues. They are a volunteer-staffed, non-profit organization that rescues abandoned and unwanted Golden Retrievers and places them in approved adoptive homes. They have a Facebook page too.

Pebbles and Bam Bam are an inseperable senior Golden couple.

The last doggies and kitties are from the Heritage Humane Society. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, Heritage Humane Society serves as a compassionate haven for stray or unwanted companion animals, educates the public about humane care and treatment, advocates animal welfare, and promotes adoption to measurably reduce overpopulation and pet homelessness.They have a Facebook group and a Twitter account.

Fred is a shy tri-color Walker Hound.

Hershey is a charcoal short-hair mix male kitty. There are a zillion kitties needing adoption at Heritage Humane Society.

Katiebug is a 1 year old friendly hound - how can you resist that face? I always fall in love with one of my AJ finds and Katiebug is the one! And I happen to know Williamsburg is just one town over.

Felicity is an 8 month old visually impaired black lab mix sweetie. 

@MattieDog and @Mariodacat were also AJs. @Brutusthedane's mom got stuck on the way home from a business trip and @LadyCat3 filled in to tweet their adoptable pets.

A New Kind of Jockey and the Saturday Blog Hop

Most of my pals know how much I enjoy being a Disc Jockey at anipal pawties. I love planning my theme, picking out the music and tweeting the tunes to the pawty guests.

Last night I was a different kind of Jockey for the #Lub2Rock Adoption Option Pawty - an Adoption Jockey or AJ instead of DJ. It was really very similar to being a DJ only instead of picking songs I was finding adoptable anipals to tweet out to the pawty goers.

 

Tiki

There was a theme just like in my DJing as I had to decide which of so many (way too many) pets that need furever homes. Instead of an hour I had a half hour and instead of a 3 minute average length song the goal was a tweet per minute. Instead of using Blip to find and tweet songs, I used Petfinder.

Mel

For my theme I went with two of my local adoption organizations. The first was the Peninsula SPCA. They have been around for 47 years and in 2007 opened their own clinic so that every adopted animal has been spayed or neutered and has received wellness vaccinations and an examine along with lots of basic care stuff. They even microchip all the pets that are adopted! Our family has a special bond with them because mom (and later dad) have adopted some wonderful dogs and cats from there over many years.

Lucy

I also wanted to tweet a few dogs  from a rescue operation based in my home town, Southeastern Virginia Golden Retriever Rescue, Education, and Training (SEVA GRREAT). This rescue recently celebrated it's 20th year of rescuing Golden Retrievers and finding them furever homes. 

Ray-Ray

Unfortunately, because Petfinder is less equipped to help out AJs compared to Blip which is designed for DJs, I probably didn't prepare as much as I should have. I selected all of the pets but should have pre-written the Tweets. I was also posting the adoptable pets on Facebook and while Blip does that automatically, I had to do the separate post for each adoptable pet. 

Bambi

But boy was it great - in two hours we got the word out about so many animals needing furever homes and, more importantly, we did a great job increasing awareness of the number of great pets in shelters and fosters needing homes and the need to think about adopting. The time just zoomed by. When I wasn't AJing I was busy retweeting the adoptable pets from the other AJs. I didn't even have time for a nom or a drink.

Dr. Pepper

The Adoption Option pawty was a project of the new Mattie Dog Foundation. @Mattiedog, @Brutusthedane, @Mariodacat and I were the AJs. The world famous Da Shibbering Cheetos played the music, @JustAnotherTrnd and @Hookalopes were Barktenders (with the requisite nommy menu) and there were quizzes and prizes.

Max

I learned something during my research of the available adoptable dogs in my area. They are overwhelmingly Pit Bulls. So sad. What did these people think they wanted when they adopted them and then turned them back in? I don't like to mention it but I don't live real far from where Michael Vick and his friends did their evil. 

Havoc

I was so happy to help with this project. When I blogged about Nico for the Anipal Photo Hunt #6, I was so thrilled when I heard Nico was adopted the next week. It feels really good to be the change!

And now it's time for the Saturday Blog hop!

The Anipal Olympics #Pawpawty

In celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the monthly #pawpawty was a tribute to the Olympics. The anipals all donned their special costumes. Sometimes I think that's my favorite part. This is my skiing avatar.


My pal @FergustheDog filmed me in a practice run on the slopes. Don't worry - some really hot Saint Bernard sweeties came and rescued me as I was eating myself out of the avalanche. This is a photo of one of them. Anyway, I got to DJ for the midnight EST time slot. This theme was pretty tough for the DJs although as usual I think we all did a good job. First time DJ @TeenysFriends blipped songs from various Olympic athletes personal playlists. @BunnyJeanCook blipped songs by the artists that appeared in the Vancouver Opening Ceremonies and @CathyKeisha had contests between artists from different countries performing the same song. Since there is always so much happening at the #pawpawty and my set was a little subtle, I wanted to share my playlist with you all. Aw shucks, I'm copying something @kittehboi did a couple of pawties ago. What can I say? You know they do say it's the sincerest form of flattery.

I started with the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 Theme Song ♫ "Winter Games" Stylus Mirek Rosh.

The Olympics are about the world coming together. In this song rappers from 21 countries around the world sing ♫ "World Peace Blue Olympics Remix."

Olympic Athletes start our as Dreamers ♫ "Dreamer" Supertramp.

An athlete has to be Hungry to win ♫ "Hungry Like A Wolf" Duran Duran

No matter how hard you work, ♫ "Only the Strong Survive" REO Speedwagon

Every athlete has ♫ "The Secret of My Success" Night Ranger

Everyone can't be an Olympic Athlete. Sometimes egos are like looking through ♫ "Rose Colored Glasses" Animal Logic

But if you persevere you might achieve fame ♫ "Ladies and Gentlemen" Saliva

After all the hard work, you win a medal and you're a ♫ "Sensation" The Who

An athlete might think they are a little invincible ♫ "I am the Warrior" Patty Smyth/Scandal

An athlete might get tempted by all of the stars and adulation ♫ "Glamour Profession" Steely Dan

Too much pawtying with ♫ "Fast Company" Eagles gets an athlete in trouble - not naming any names or casting any blame .... you might smoke a little nip, sleep with a lot of women.

But we all turn into a ♫ "Couch Potato" Weird Al Yankovic watching the Olympics (I always have to include a Weird Al song in my playlists)

The Olympics is one giant ♫ "Peace Train" Cat Stevens

Hope everybody had as much fun as I did. As usual it was all to raise money for an animal charity. This month it was The Pet Samaritan Fund in the Salt Lake City, Utah area and so far we have raised over $1,300!

And don't forget to vote in the poll on my new collar (top left above).