This handsome fella is just waiting at the Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, FL for someone to take him home and give him the love he deserves. According to rescuers, he is a real sweetie and is both people and dog friendly. If he is not adopted by a loving person/family or pulled by a rescue very soon, he will be put on the red list for this week, meaning he will be euthanized.

He is a 1-year-old tan and black male Rottweiler. Animal ID: A127801, Room #: WD37

If you are interested in rescuing or adopting this dog, please contact ALL of the following email addresses:

veronica@fldoglover.com

David.Morton@ocfl.net

Linda.Hepenstal@ocfl.net

Read more...

Akron, OH - My foster kittens need forever home(s)!

These are my three beautiful, playful, and amazing foster kittens. I rescued them from underneath my neighbor's porch. They had been left to live outside through the snow and below freezing temperatures, being fed nothing but human table scraps! Last summer I rescued their siblings, their mother's previous litter. I can tell you that while this mother cat has had the misfortune of living outside 24/7 and not being spayed, she has produced some wonderful litters of kittens!

These little guys are about 3 months old. They've been to the vet, received all of their routine shots, been dewormed, and now have a clean bill of health! They will be neutered once they are old enough (the vet waits until their are at least 4 months old). I am fostering them through a no-kill, non-profit rescue that will pay for the kittens' spay/neuter.

The black kitten is Daisy. She's sort of the leader of the pack. Daisy is almost always the one to instigate something! She's very curious and adventurous. She's also a huge love bug! Her purr sounds like a motorboat, and you don't even have to touch her to get it going! Yet, she rather play with you or lay next to you than be held on your lap or in your arms.

The gray kitten is Matilda. She's the shy, quiet one of the group, but don't let that fool you. She can play and tumble like the best of them! If you're gentle with her, you'll have her purring in no time! She's also more than willing to lay in somebody's arms.

The long-haired kitten is Simba. He's the bodyguard of the group and also happens to think of himself as a little lion. He's very easy to hold in your arms when he's not tumbling and rolling around on the ground! He enjoys play, but I believe he'll grow into the ultimate lap cat! He puts on a brave, strong front, but I think he just wants a a super plush kitty bed, plenty of toys, and a lifetime supply of kitty treats.

Daisy, Matilda, and Simba are the ultimate feline three musketeers! They're a wonderful team and I believe they find comfort and confidence in one another. They have only been with me for a week, which has been their first experience with such close human contact. They are not feral cats. They are very friendly, but they can be a bit shy at times, especially with new people, new setting, and new situations. I believe the reason they have flourished so well within the last 7 days is because they have had each other. It would be my dream to find them a wonderful home together. I realize that this might not be possible, but I am asking that if anyone has the room in their heart and home for this wonderful troop to please consider adopting all three, or at least two. If one is left, I might adopt him or her, as their older sister would sure love a forever playmate!

The rescue is based in the Akron area, but I can adopt the kittens to surrounding Northeast Ohio area.

If you are interested in learning more about Daisy, Matilda, and/or Simba and possibly adopting them, please contact me at afurryfriend@gmail.com

Read more...

Meriden, CT - Cat in need of foster ASAP!

This is Solider, a semi-feral cat that has been living at the Meriden Humane Society in Meriden, Connecticut since he was 9 weeks old. I say semi-feral since he has been in contact with humans from a young age and is not completely wild. He is simply rather scared of people and needs someone to work with him on this. He is part of a "troop" of cats that was abandoned at the shelter a year ago.
Soldier adores other cats, but he is terribly frightened of most people. The shelter staff has been working with him very hard. Those working with him want to emphasize that just because Soldier is scared, this doesn't mean he isn't a good cat. He will let people pet him and every once and a while he'll even push his head up into your hand, demanding a pet! He also loves Chicken & Shrimp Meow Mix cups. The worker who contacted me about Soldier says that out of the over 100 cats currently at the shelter, Soldier is by far her favorite.

Soldier should only go to a home with adults or older children and teenagers who can understand Soldier's special needs at the moment. He should also only go to a dog-free household. A dog would probably terrify poor Soldier so much that he would hide and never come out. It would also be nice if he had a single room or area to stay in at first, rather than the entire house. This will reduce the places he can hide and also keep from overwhelming him too much.
Solider is in need of an understanding person who realizes he is scared and will give him the love he deserves and appreciate his independence. Soldier will need a quiet home where there are limited places for him to hide. He needs to go somewhere that is quiet and comfortable, so that he may gain his confidence with people.

Soldier is up-to-date with routine shots, neutered, and house trained.

He currently does not have the best litterbox habits. This is believed to be a side effect of his weight loss, which is a result of his constant physical activity in the cat room! He tends to go wherever he is sitting; however, he usually urinates in the litterbox.

The shelter will pay for food, litter, and vet expenses. They will also provide food dishes and litter boxes, if needed.

Foster families can be from any distance that can be comfortably driven. The shelter wants to be close enough in case he Solider needs to be returned or if there is an emergency; yet, for the most part, any distance a foster family is willing to drive is acceptable.

Anyone interested in more information on Soldier can contact the Meriden Humane Society:

Phone: (203) 238-3650

Email: meridensociety@sbcglobal.net.

They can also email foster applications if anyone is coming from a distance and would like to get an application in before making the trip. (Obviously they won't force anyone to take him just because they put in an application. It's entirely non-binding.)

Read more...

Orlando, FL - Sweet dog needs adoption/rescue ASAP!

A fellow rescuer is asking that someone please find it in their heart to adopt this dog into your family and home or pull this dog if you are part of a no-kill rescue. She is listed as a 10-year-old Chow Chow mix, but this rescuer believes she is likely some sort of Shepherd mix. She is heartworm positive, but that can be treated. She's gentle and oh so loving. But don't worry, she still has some zest and play in her too! She loves to run around the yard when taken outside. She was so scared when she first arrived at the shelter on December 30th. She just seemed to sit in her little kennel and wish for a home, but nobody has offered. She's a gem and would make a perfect companion for sooooo many families. She's so gentle and would be great with kids. She loves to have her back massaged and to just sit by your side as a faithful companion.

This angel of a dog is located at Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, Florida.

Please help this sweet dog. She only has until today, Saturday, at 2pm to be adopted or rescued!

If you can help this dog, please contact the shelter at (call & email both addresses!):
(407) 254-9140
David.Morton@ocfl.net
Linda.Hepenstal@ocfl.net

This is the email of the woman trying to get this dog rescued. Email her along with the above addresses:
veronica@fldoglover.com

Read more...

Tallahassee, FL - Orphan pups need foster/rescue URGENT

These little puppies are now orphans. Their mother was shot by three horrible, despicable, worthless young people and then crawled away from the puppies and into the woods to die. The three murderers then kicked the pups and tossed them into the air and let them hit the ground. They thought they had killed one, so they tossed it under an abandoned trailer. A woman caught them and threatened them with a baseball bat, after which the men ran. She called the cops and animal control, but neither showed up. She took in the pups and tried to find somewhere for them to go. Thankfully, a vet recommended she contact a caring animal lover, who did agree to take the pups in. The puppies are now staying with this temporary foster mother, but she is looking for other caring foster homes and or rescues to help her.
There are 6 pups total - 5 girls & 1 boy. They are only about 2.5 weeks old.

If anyone in the Tallahassee/Quincy area is willing to lend a helping hand and take on one of these adorable babies, please contact Bonnie at: bbbrinson4u@aol.com

Read more...

The Truth about Declawing

I took my three foster kittens to the vet yesterday for their first exam and shots. While in the waiting room, I witnessed over 3 people come in to schedule declawing surgeries for their cats. Just the sound of it fills me with pain. I had to restrain myself from jumping up and giving a speech about the horrible procedure that is declawing. If I didn't have such wonderful self-control, this is what I would say:

1. Declawing is not like removing a toenail! It is literally maiming your cat. It's actually multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged, and destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is a slow and painful process. This procedure can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing, and stretching.
2. While declawing is a popular and lucrative practice in the United States, it is not practiced in European countries. It is, in fact, against the law, in many countries including England, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.
3. Cat Owners who elect to have their paws declawed generally do so with the belief that they will never have to deal with fabric damage due to destructive scratching problems. However, paw sensitivity resulting from the declaw operation may result in litterbox avoidance and urine-soaked furnishings or carpeting.
4. Without its #1 defense system many declawed cats resort to nipping or biting with very little warning. They often use oral means to express their insecurity and this may also result in destructive chewing problems. If your cat is an outdoor cat or sneaks outside, he/she will have no defense against other animals.
5. For declawed cats, the activities of climbing, jumping, holding, grasping, and ability to balance are all affected and are never the same again.
6. Cats, like people, react differently to physical handicaps. Some appear to be unaffected and others become nervous and defensive. When a dramatic temperament or behavior change occurs, the cat owner often decides to take the cat to a pound or shelter or have it euthanized by a veterinarian.
7. Sometimes cats might act as if they are not affected after being declawed, but cats are one of the best creatures at hiding pain.
8. THERE ARE MORE HUMANE SOLUTIONS! If you don't want your cat scratching the furniture, there are more humane, comfortable ways to do so. Scratching of furniture and other things is 100% preventable without the use of declawing.

Alternatives to declawing:

• Soft Paws - lightweight vinyl caps that are glued to the cat's front claws.
• Provide a scratching post for you cat. Learn how to make your cat use/prefer the post.
• Visit Stop Cat Scratching to learn helfpul tips, hints, and tricks to make your cat stop scratching. These include objects to use to avert them and training techniques to stop them.

Information from Cats International, Declawing.com, CatScratching.com, & The Problem Cat.

Read more...

Jacksonville, FL - 2 Norwegian Elkhounds need rescue/adopt URGENT!

These two beautiful dogs are at the Jacksonville Animal Control Facility in Jacksonville, FL. They were dropped off after their owner died. These poor dogs are missing their owners and confused as to why they were left in that death trap. Both dogs are Norwegian Elkhounds.

The male dog is neutered and around 55-60 lbs. The female dog is around 49 lbs. and no spay scar was found on her. Both dogs tested positive for heartworm, but that can be cured with some simple medication.

The dogs were supposed to go to a breed-specific rescue, but that fell through.

There has been a donation made of $75 for each dog. This means that there is already $75 paid to each of the dog's adoption fees.

The dogs only have until the end of today, Wednesday, before they are put to sleep.

If you can help these dogs or know someone who might be able to, please contact:

June Mason Adoption/Rescue Coordinator

Phone: 904-387-8924 ext#239

Fax: 904-387-8903

Remember, if you do not live in the immediate Jacksonville area, transportation of the animals might be available through a rescue transport service or group. Contact June and ask if they would cooperate with a transport. If so, research different options by clicking the "Rescue Transport Services" on the left-hand side of my blog.

Read more...