Pet Dish for August 31, 2010

In this issue:

Stretch your dollar at AHS
Tweeting that matters
Fostering compassion in kids together
A fond welcome for Rachelle and Save Our Strays
Saying goodbye to a best friend
Pet Dish Pet Tips with Paula Zukoff - Leash aggression
More Treats
Scratching Post

Stretch your dollar at AHS

Think about some of the ways you’ve spent $50… Perhaps it’s been on a month-long membership to the gym that goes unused, or a parking ticket, a printer cartridge or bad movies? How about considering spending $50 on something (or someone) you’ll never regret? Adopt a loyal, devoted feline friend who loves you unconditionally and gives you peace in knowing you made the world a better place for one animal. Beginning in September you can adopt one cat for just $50 and go home knowing you made a sound financial decision. Click here for more information.

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Tweeting that matters

In a recent turn of events, Animal Humane Society became home to a more than unusual number of birds — beautiful finches, cockatiels, and parakeets. In an effort to quickly find these birds homes, the public was invited to let out the song in their heart to adopt a fine-feathered friend for just $1. Many stopped by our five shelters this past weekend to sing or whistle a little bird ditty and their talents placed the birds into new homes!

Click here to watch the performances of a few of our adopters — it was tweeting that mattered!

The promotion has ended, but if you're still interested in adopting a bird or any other pet, check our website for adoptable animals updated in real time.

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Fostering compassion in kids together

According to the U.S. National Parent-Teacher Association Congress, "Children trained to extend justice, kindness, and mercy to animals become more just, kind, and considerate in their relations with one another."

Are you looking for opportunities to teach your child compassion as well as allow them to explore their interests? As a parent, you can partner with Animal Humane Society to foster compassion in your child by registering them for the fall semester of the PetSet Youth Club. Click here to learn more.

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A fond welcome for Rachelle and Save Our Strays

The morning of August 17, 2010, did not start like any other day at Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley. It began with many staff, volunteers and AHS supporters standing in the driveway, holding up signs that read, “Welcome to Minnesota. Welcome home."

The crowd was anxiously awaiting the arrival of our friends Connie and David Guthrie of Save Our Strays of Oklahoma. The arrival marked an incredible milestone for the couple — they were bringing the two-thousandth dog to Animal Humane Society to receive a second chance at life in Minnesota. That dog was a black Lab named Rachelle. Watch the full story on KARE 11.

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Saying goodbye to a best friend

Anyone who has owned a pet they considered a friend, companion, or family member knows how special the human-animal bond can be. Pets give us companionship and unconditional love. They can reduce stress and improve our mood. Unfortunately, the joy of owning a pet goes hand-in-hand with the pain of losing one. For many, losing a pet is one of life's most heart-breaking experiences.

In honor of our departed pets, the second Sunday of September is National Pet Memorial Day. This is a day to remember the joy our pets brought to our lives. This day can help bring closure to a recent loss or provide a day to remember your pet annually among others who share the same feelings. This year, National Pet Memorial Day is September 12th.

At Animal Humane Society, we understand how hard it is to lose a pet and we’re here to support you. End of life care for your pet brings about both difficult and emotional decisions. We provide a variety of services to help you prepare for and cope with the loss of a pet.

As ideal as it may be, pets do not always die peacefully at home. A decision concerning humane euthanasia may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. It is a personal, loving decision to euthanize a pet for which the quality of life has deteriorated. When the time comes to say goodbye to your animal companion, Animal Humane Society provides a humane and affordable euthanasia service to the public.

Once a pet has passed, it is very common for pet owners to have their deceased pets cremated, a service that Animal Humane Society offers at our Golden Valley facility. We offer communal cremation as well as private cremation for families who wish to keep the remains of their pet.

For many of us, the grief we feel when losing a pet can be just as overwhelming as when we lose a relative or human friend. But you may find that even your best friends and relatives don’t understand the depth of feeling you have for a lost pet. At Animal Humane Society’s Pet Loss Support Group, you can share your feelings with others who are going through a similar experience.

For more information on all Animal Humane Society’s pet loss services click here.

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Pet Dish Pet Tips with Paula Zukoff
Does your dog act out while on leash? Watch this Pet Dish Pet Tips videos to learn more about how you can help your dog show his best behavior to the neighborhood.

Don’t forget to send us your training questions
Is your pet itching to add a few tricks to his repertoire? Do you have questions about your pet’s behavior and what you can do to help her be a better family pet? Let us know your training question by sending us an email - or better yet sending a video showing us the problems you're having with your pup! Send videos and emails to petdishideas@animalhumanesociety.org.

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