Pet News

I started this blog six years ago today, on 28 November 2003. Where has the time gone? Three years ago on this date, there had been 42,820 visits, which is an average of 39.0 visits per day. During the past three years, there have been 101,807 visits, which is an average of 92.8 visits per day. Overall, in six years, there have been 144,627 visits, which is an average of 65.9 visits per day. As you may have noticed, I recently changed the blog’s appearance. I hope you like it. If you have something to which I should link, please send it. I do not like being used as a mere means to other people’s ends, so please don’t try to use this blog to get publicity for some product or service you are selling. I do, however, enjoy publicizing things that are designed to benefit animals.

There’s nothing quite like getting it off your chest, whatever “it” is and despite whether “they” are listening to you. Such seems to be the operating principle behind the “Open Letters” at McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, in which people write in with whatever small life absurdity they’d like to acknowledge and move past. They’re vastly entertaining in that grownup way (because, let’s face it, other people’s issues just are). And many of them seem to be exorcising the ghost of whatever idea they ever had that one can truly reason with pets.

For example, somewhere there is an Amazon parrot that has been freeloading for over 15 years without offering much in the way of return. And a cat who has made a hobby of pushing breakables off the sink when everyone else in the house is sleeping. And a pair of mean dogs who shouldn’t bank on the fact that they belong to somebody’s sibling. And the turtle letter – well, I got a flashback to the first time I read Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=16872940

Funny story about a dog stealing a turkey, and leaving it in someone else’s yard….

Looking for a great companion and want only one cat? Marco may be the fellow for you!

Looking for a great companion and want only one cat? Marco may be the fellow for you!

“A Dog Named Christmas” premieres Sunday, Nov. 29 on CBS (photo credit: Erik Heinila)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 11, 2009) — This holiday season Hallmark Hall of Fame and CBS are partnering with Petfinder.com to launch the first-ever “Foster A Lonely Pet for the Holidays” program inspired by the movie A Dog Named Christmas, premiering on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS Television Network.

Based on Greg Kincaid’s popular novel, the movie tells the story of a developmentally challenged, kind-hearted young man who sets out to convince his family – and their whole rural community – to participate in a local animal shelter’s inaugural “Foster a Dog for Christmas Program.” Bringing this inspiring tale to life, Petfinder.com is working with more than 2,000 shelters and rescue groups across North America to give families the chance to welcome an adoptable pet into their home for the holiday season.

This effort will help ease the burden on shelters, give homeless pets some attention and affection, and provide families an opportunity to experience the joys of having a pet in their home.

Interested individuals can visit http://www.petfinder.com/foster-a-lonely-pet to find participating shelters and rescue groups near them. Staff and volunteers at the participating organizations will be available to answer questions about the fostering process and help select a pet who will be a good match for the foster family.

To learn more about fostering with Pet Haven email dogs@pethavenmn.org and check out our website.

On Sunday, Nov. 29, on CBS at 8 CST, television viewers will learn about this pet fostering program on the Hallmark Hall of Fame world premiere of A Dog Named Christmas during a PSA at the end of the broadcast.

For more info on the movie checkout the Hallmark Hall of Fame website.

What is Chase Community Giving?

Chase Community Giving is a program run by Chase that will allow Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations in the following focus areas: education, healthcare, housing, the environment, combating hunger, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare. The grassroots campaign aims to inspire a new way of corporate philanthropy.

The eligible charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million, the top five runners-up will receive $100,000 each and the 100 finalists, including the top winners, will be awarded $25,000 each. Additionally, a special Advisory Board led by prominent national philanthropists will allocate $1 million to the nominated charities of its choice.

In order to vote you do need to have an account on Facebook! If you aren’t already on facebook we encourage you to sign up and join the I support Pet Haven Facebook group AND take a second to vote for Pet Haven for the Chase Community Giving program.

Voting for Round 1 ends on December 11, 2009 so vote now and help us spread the word!