Animal websites to keep handy. . .

Humor & smiles:

This has to be one of the absolute best websites anywhere. Most days you will laugh, some days you end up with a tear trickling down, but they are always genuine and heartwarming: http://drawthedog.com/

For cat lovers, you'll laugh at these: http://tinyurl.com/Funny-Kitty-Cats

There are also charitable organizations that help with medical expenses and medical emergencies. Below is a list of a handful of them - you can also do a Google search to find others.

Help with Spay or Neuter: If you know someone with pets who needs help with spay or neuter costs help may be very close. Friends of Animals has a database that is searchable by zip code - you can get a certificate mailed to you by going to http://www.friendsofanimals.org/index.html.





IMOM.org also has a national spay/neuter program. More information can be found here: http://www.imom.org/spay-neuter/itshere.htm

Help with medical expenses: Know someone with no funds whose pet needs expensive medical treatment? If there is an AAHA Accredited Veterinary Hospital in the area, their vet may be able to apply for financial aid for them through an AAHA grant. Information here: http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/grant_guidelines.html

To find an AAHA accredited facility go here: http://www.healthypet.com/Accreditation/HospitalSearch.aspx



United Animal Nation (UAN): http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28

Help a Pet focuses on helping pets of physically and mentally challenged individuals, senior citizens or children of the working poor. http://www.help-a-pet.org/

The Pet Fund: http://www.thepetfund.com/

Angels for Animals: angels4animals.org
Brown Dog Foundation: browndogfoundation.org/home
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program: fveap.org

Diabetic Pets Fund: petdiabetes.net/fund/
The Mosby Foundation: themosbyfoundation.org
The Binky Foundation: binkyfoundation.org


God's Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity: http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html Jake Brady Memorial Fund: http://www.myjakebrady.com/memorial_fund.shtml

Cat specific:


Feline Outreach: felineoutreach.org



Cats In Crisis: catsincrisis.org

Cancer:
The Perseus Foundation (cancer-specific): PerseusFoundation.org

Canine Cancer Awareness: caninecancerawareness.org

Cody's Club (radiation treatments): codysclub.bravehost.com/

Magic Bullet Fund (cancer-specific - dogs): themagicbulletfund.org



There are also breed specific organizations who provide financial aid for pets in need of medical care and there are illness specific support organizations for pets in need. When doing an internet search, try searching for help by breed or medical condition too.

Gaylin found a home

Gaylin came into rescue from a bad home environment. He and a female were abused in their home and another foster mom was approached by their owner and offered the two dogs. Gaylin was in his first foster home 13 months but was moved here due to a newly developed attitude problem. He started attacking dogs in his original foster home then moved on to attack his foster dad. His foster mom tried a variety of corrections and finally asked if he could come here for an attitude adjustment.

Gaylin belonged here from day one. He got along with the other dogs, liked his foster mom and dad, just a great lttle dog. After a month or two, we discovered that he did not like brooms and will "kill" any broom within reach if permitted. Althhough he is better, we tell him no, stop him from attacking the broom and try not to laugh out loud when he sits in front of the broom closet to ensure that wild & crazy broom does not escape.

A few months later he decided he wanted to be the alpha dog and started attacking Tucker (at least 5 times Gaylin's size) multiple times a day. That behavior took a good month to break but he finally learned that unless he wanted to be in permanent time out, he needed to

behave.

As sometimes happens, the rescue group that had him, became impatient that no applications were coming in for him and complained constantly. My husband & I got fed up (as many foster homes do) and just adopted him ourselves as we were concerned that the rescue group would send him off to the first applicant who applied whether it was an appropriate home or not.

One thing you learn very quickly in rescue is there are less than stellar rescue groups (and rescue people). There are also quite a few "cherry picker" rescues. Those are the groups who only accept the young, cute, healthy, easily placed dogs that can also command a high adoption fee.

Gaylin's rescue was not bad, just impatient and short sighted. Fortunately, they did take him in when he needed a safe haven. Regardless, found his forever home and he's here to stay!