dog – Page 3 – Ten Thousand Kittens

June 13, 2013June 13, 2013

The ASPCA Challenge: It’s All About Adoption

The Challenge
Every summer, cats and dogs flock to the shelters. Unspayed cats are having their litters of kittens and stray animals have no need to hide from the winter chill. In the shelter world, we are now in “kitten season.” This lasts until late August or early September, which means that all summer long, every cage in every animal shelter is full.

Summer adoption programs are essential for helping animals get in and out of shelter doors. This year, the Animal Rescue League of Boston is participating in the ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge. For the 50 participating animal shelters across the United States, the goal is to adopt out more cats and dogs than were adopted out during the same time last year. The Challenge began on June 1, and ends August 31.

Not only is the Challenge important because it helps save lives and motivates shelters to increase adoptions, but important grant money will be awarded at the end of the Challenge:

In 2013, 50 shelters will save even more lives, with winners earning $600,000 in prize grants, including a $100,000 grand prize for the shelter that increases lives saved the most.

—http://challenge.aspcapro.org/about-2013-challenge

As all animal shelters (and all non-profits) know, grant money can make or break essential programs that will help increase adoptions year-round.

ARL On the Go
I got to spend the afternoon with Lobo, a Cocker Spaniel (who has since been adopted!). He is such a sweet boy, who was surrendered to us when his previous owners were forced to give him up by their landlord. He was so gentle during the event, and climbed up into the MAT to spend time with the cats, and even gave a young kitten a tongue bath!

We ended up adopting out two kittens, a 6-month-old Chihuahua mix, and Lobo was put on hold (meaning his adopters needed to return for final paperwork). I went into Petco and bought new toys to spoil the Alcohol Cats (I couldn’t help it). And we were able to spread the word about our participation in the ASPCA Challenge to a new town!

This Summer, Think Adoption
If you’re considering adding a new furry friend to your home, summer is a great time to adopt! Not only are you saving one life, but you are providing another cage for an animal in need who might not otherwise get the chance for a new life.

These next few months, the ARL will be trying to save 1200 lives in 12 weeks! Be sure to follow our journey on the ARL Facebook page, and the ARL website!

March 28, 2013

Run Toward Adorable Puppies

A lot of my friends have started running 5Ks. It’s not only a post-graduate trend, it seems, but a way to have some healthy & organized fun. There are races all over Boston, and while I’m not a particularly good runner myself, I’ve often considered joining in.

But while some races throw paint at you, or throw mud at you, or play music at you, or let you dress up in ridiculous costumes, there are also races that are for a good cause, and one of the best causes I can think of: PUPPIES!

Here is one such upcoming event for runners and animal-lovers in the Boston area:

GREAT DOG RESCUE OF NEW ENGLAND 1st Annual 5K
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013
9:00 AM (race begins 10:00AM)
Tewksbury Memorial High School
Tewksbury, MA

“Come run or walk with your dogs and help raise money for GDRNE! We have a great day planned with the race, games for kids, puppies available for adoption, face painting and temporary tattoos, raffle and more! Registration is only $30 and if you register by April 5th you get an event t-shirt!”

>>More Event Info

A little self-promotion: I will be volunteering at this event, so be sure to say “hi” by the puppies and adoptable dogs!

January 24, 2013March 12, 2013

Are Shelter Animals “Broken”?

It’s been nearly two and a half years since I began volunteering at the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), and almost a year for the Great Dog Rescue of New England (GDRNE). The idea of animal shelters had flitted across my mind growing up. I often thought that volunteering at a shelter meant nothing more than cleaning kennels and occasionally cuddling a puppy. Goodness knows, I didn’t even consider how many cats are in shelters. Small animals never even crossed my mind. Part of it was that I didn’t have any animals growing up that didn’t live in tanks, and those came from a local pet shop or from our garden. One friend had a dog that was a “buy at the side of the road” type of puppy from someone whose dog had had a litter. Another neighbor ended up adopting a dog that was super shy—at the very least “quirky.” Not exactly a great shelter example. Only one of my parents’ friends had “normal” rescue dogs (and it turns out, were fostered for GDRNE), and that seemed to be because he was an excellent dog trainer. So I understand the stigma against shelter animals, because as much as I champion for them now, I never knew what to expect growing up. Continue reading “Are Shelter Animals “Broken”?”