“Dog bites man” is not news — unless the dog belongs to a breed that has been declared dangerous, in which case the media is all over the story. In turn, the public response has often been to pass laws banning or restricting the breed. But studies have shown that Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is…
Shelter Medicine: Veterinary Challenges & Solutions
I recently did a series about how the Shelter Pet Project is working to change the image of shelter pets. As discussed in the final installment — see Shelter Pet Project Pt. 3: The Future — that’s only one part of the equation: In order to promote adoption and end the killing of healthy animals,…
The Shelter Pet Project, Pt. 3: The Future
“Our goal is to end the euthanasia of dogs and cats in America that are healthy and treatable. To do that we have to place 2.7 million more dogs and cats this year than we did in the previous year: that means 4 more adoptions per week per animal organization in the United States. We…
Shelter Pet Project, Pt. 2: A Pet Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
“A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet. Be that person. Adopt.” — slogan, the Shelter Pet Project In a three-part series, I’m exploring the Shelter Pet Project, a campaign dedicated to ending the killing of healthy, adoptable pets. These posts are based on my interview with Rich Avanzino, President of…
The Shelter Pet Project, Pt. 1: Changing Perceptions
“Our movement is dedicated to changing the status quo. We have 17 million people out there who are going to get an animal next year and they haven’t yet decided from where. If we can get 2.7 million of them to decide to get a pet from a rescue or a shelter, we can end…
Real Men Love Dogs, NFL Edition: I ♥ Rodger Saffold
Let’s face it: When you see the words “National Football League” and “dogs” in the same sentence, the name that’s likely to come to mind is Michael Vick. And it’s not going to make you feel warm and fuzzy. If you’re a football fan and an animal lover, here’s some good news: Together, we can…
Pet Adoption Videos That Don’t Make Me Want to Kill Myself: Outtakes
In my quest to find upbeat pet adoption videos, I’ve come across some that have been sitting in my “Drafts” file because I’m just not sure about them. But maybe I’m being too critical. What do you think? From the Arizona Humane Society: I like the idea, but wish there were more pets, fewer people.…
Spay & Neuter with a Smile: Kathryn Heigl Hates Balls
My alert Facebook pal Karen Lifshey-Shapiro called this public service announcement to my attention. It reminded me a lot of my first foray into spay and neuter territory, a video I worried might be offensive to men. Compared to this, that one was tame! Katherine Heigl Hates Balls from Katherine Heigl So… have I offended…
Spay & Neuter with a Smile, Celebrity Edition
I don’t usually have anything good to say about PeTA, but I have to give credit where it’s due for these two public service announcements. The first one is especially clever.
A Clean, Well-Lighted Shelter: Open Paw Programs
There are a lot of important pieces in the pet adoption puzzle. Getting people to see shelter pets as desirable is a primary one. It’s the impetus behind my Pet Adoption Videos that Don’t Make You Want to Kill Yourself series. Getting shelter pets to actually be desirable is even more crucial. Dogs barking, jumping,…