February is Spay Neuter Awareness Month

In Alabama, approximately 120,000 of the dogs and cats that land in shelters and impound facilities are destroyed annually using your tax dollars and donations. Although there is much disagreement among animal welfare advocates as to how to end the needless killing of shelter animals, there is one point on which most experts agree: the single most important way for us to reduce the number of shelter pets is by spaying and neutering them.                                                  (Source: http://www.alabamavotesforanimals.org/ )
 
T-Town PAWS will be providing ongoing information and resources throughout the month of February (and all year long) to promote spay/neuter awareness.  Watch our website, tweets, blog and Facebook posts for more information and join us in getting the word out – - spay/neuter IS the solution!

And speaking of solutions, The Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic is offering a way to beat the “heat” – female cats spayed for $20 in February. If you don’t have a female cat, they’re offering $5 off their already low pricing. The clinic’s goal is “to stem the tide of unwanted and abandoned companion animals by offering low-cost, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries”.  We encourage you to visit  http://www.alspay.org/ for details – - and share this great resource with everyone you know!

Let your voice be heard far and wide! Please join T-Town PAWS in spreading the message that spay/neuter is good for your pet, is good for you, and is good for your community.

October is Adopt-A-Dog Month and there are more dogs in need than ever. Our friends at Petfinder have created some wonderful articles to help rescue our furry friends. You can get information about adopting a dog, tips for the first thirty days of dog adoption,  a dog adoption checklist and more!

But what if you can’t adopt? Petfinder gives us 10 easy ways you can still help:

1. Donate your Facebook status. Just paste this message into the “What’s on your mind?” box at the top of your page: “October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog! http://www.petfinder.com”
2. Tweet, retweet and repeat the following (or your own brilliant message): “October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Save a life: Adopt a dog! http://www.petfinder.com #savedogs”
3. Contact your local shelter or rescue group (you can search for groups near you here) and ask if they have a donation wish list or other flyer they’d like to you to post around your office or neighborhood. They may be holding special events for Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month which you can help promote.
4. Share an adoptable dog or a Petfinder dog-adoption Happy Tail on your blog, Facebook or Twitter (hashtag #savedogs) page each day of the month.
5. Sign up as a foster parent or shelter volunteer then tell your friends how great it is. Contact your local shelter or rescue group, or register in our volunteer database.
6. Add a Petfinder widget or banner to your Web site or blog.
7. Write an op-ed about the importance of pet adoption for your local paper.
8. Contact your local shelter or rescue group and offer to photograph their adoptable pets and upload the pics to Petfinder.
9. Donate to your local shelter or rescue group or to the Petfinder.com Foundation in honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month.
10. Pass on an understanding of the importance of pet adoption to the next generation. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other up-and-comers about animal shelters and why Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and pet adoption in general, is important.

Did we leave anything out? Tell us your own ideas!

Belle

It was March 2007 and I went with a friend to Pet Supplies Plus so she could get some dog food for her dog. I had been thinking I might get a cat. Im a huge animal lover and we had recently had to put my dog from childhood down, so I wasn’t sure about getting a dog at this point. We went in and I said, “Let’s go back to the adoption room and see what they have.” Well, “Belle” had just been brought in and was actually still in a carrier down in a shopping cart. She peeked out at me with her sad eyes and she had me right then. She is a beagle/border collie mix and I just thought she was marked so cute and was such a good size. Not too small and not too big. I immediately said “I’ll take her.” I filled out the application and came back the next day to get her. Now she is such a big part of my life and everyone who meets her is in love with her.  She has so much personality and does the funniest things. But yet is so sweet and protective. I cannot imagine my life without her now!

Just look at those eyes!

Jodi the Iraqi Pup

A few months ago, my platoon was sent on a resupply mission for the 2010 Iraqi elections.  My platoon was assigned to resupply one specific Iraqi army compound every other day.  In this particular compound, there were lots of dogs running wild.  They were eaten up by flies and gnats and extremely underfed.  Though they were all mostly grown, it was obvious that they wouldn’t survive much longer without someone’s help.

Every time we went to the compound, one dusty black and white pup stood out to me.  Unlike the others, it didn’t try to bark and bite when you got near it.  I mentioned that we should take this puppy back with us to a few of the guys.  They always disagreed.

After a week of my insistence on taking this puppy, a close friend of mine, John, decided to swipe the dog and sneak it on base by hiding it in his gun truck.  We kept the dog in my room for two weeks.  We fed the dog, bathed her, and took her on regular walks when no one was around.  We decided to name her Jodi.

Eventually Jodi got tired of being in my room and began to bark.  There was no hiding her anymore with her loud barking—we were caught.  During chow time, one of my sergeants got on to me for having a pet in my room.  It is strictly against the rules to have a pet while in a combat zone.

My battalion commander made me let her go.  Jodi didn’t want to leave.  She still stays around and sleeps in our rooms.  We let her in and feed and play with her in our free time.  Having her around lightens up the mood.  Just seeing her prancing around playing with the soldiers is heart warming.  To see Jodi running up to greet everyone when we get back from a mission is kind of like coming home to a little brother or sister.

As time has gone on, everyone has grown to love Jodi.  Even our stonewall company commander and first sergeant have grown fond of her.  To the 1^st platoon, Bravo Company, our favorite lady will always be Jodi the Iraqi pup.

Jodi's boys (Quentin is in the middle)

Maddie fits right in!

When my little sister began middle school in Orlando, Fla., last year, she wanted a puppy to keep her company when she got home in the afternoon. My family started searching for the perfect companion for Jennifer and our family. We spent several week visiting shelters, but no puppy really clicked with all of us – until we met Maddie.

When Jennifer and Maddie met, it was puppy love at first sight. We almost didn’t see the all-black border collie mix in the back of a pen at the animal shelter, but when she emerged from the shadows, Jennifer thought she was beautiful and wanted to play with her. After playing with “the black dog” for a few minutes, we had to have her.

About 3 years old, Maddie had been a regular at the shelter. Two other families had adopted her and sent her back within a few weeks, leaving us slightly concerned when we took her home. We sensed she had issues with past owners and other dogs when we tried to walk her in the neighborhood or leave her at home. After several weeks of adjusting and lots of patience and love, Maddie felt right at home. We took her to “Puppy School” at Petsmart every Saturday morning, and she graduated in a few weeks, complete with graduation cap.

Although she seems overprotective at times (it’s a border collie thing, we’ve learned), Maddie is truly the best companion for our family. She loves belly rubs and snuggling, and she looks forward to climbing into our laps for American Idol at night. She’s not happy unless everyone in the family is in the same room, and she’s not content unless one of us is petting her constantly. She loves to jump in the pool on sunny days and chase squirrels from under our lanai. She loves to listen to music on long car rides to Alabama to visit family, and she and our cousin’s dog are best friends. She’s very protective of my sister, and she’s one of my best friends. She sees my mom as her mom and my dad as her dad.

Maddie is truly a member of our family, and she surprises us every day with something new. I’m sure there are plenty more Maddies out there, and I hope people give them a chance. With lots of love, patience and dedication, any puppy can become one of the most loving members of your family.

Jennifer and Maddie snuggling on the couch

Maddie's first day with her new family!

Deirdra showing her Valentine some love

For Valentine’s Day last year, my boyfriend, Michael, wanted to get me a kitten. I had always had pets since childhood.  Since I lived by myself, he wanted me to have some company. Michael took me to go look at the kittens at T-Town PAWS. Going to animal shelters is really hard for me. I always want take every animal home with me, but I was excited to get a kitten. When we went, I looked at all the cats and then when I opened one cage, a little black kitten just jumped out on me. He was purring and loving on me and cried when I put him back in the cage. Needless to say, he ended up being the kitten I chose. T-Town PAWS had named him Aristotle, but I changed his name to Eli. I still have him and love him so much! I spoil him by buying him lots of toys and treats. Eli even has his own Alabama harness and leash for when we go out to play!

Having Eli has made living alone much easier.  I always have someone to greet me when I come home!

Eli's always there to greet me!

He's the one!

I will go ahead an admit it.  I’ve never been a fan of little housedogs.  Something about how they are constantly barking and shed hair all over the couch just gets to me.  If you would have asked me a few years ago, I’d say there is no way that I would ever own one.  Once I met Tiger, that all changed.

I was on my way to drop my son off at his friend’s house.  As I parked the car, I noticed a small dog sitting in the middle of the driveway.  The dog sat patiently staring at me with his dark brown eyes.  Somehow, I just knew this little one was for me.  I shook off the thought as I drove away.  Surely, this little dog belonged to someone.

When I returned with my husband later that day, the wide eyed little dog was still sitting in exactly the same spot.  As I looked at the dog, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was for me.  I turned to my husband and said, “I know this sounds crazy, but I just feel like something is telling me that this little dog is for me.”  Always supportive, my husband encouraged me to go ask the owner of the house if they had any information about the dog.

After speaking with the homeowner, I learned that the dog’s former owner had been very abusive.  The battered and malnourished dog had now been abandoned.  The homeowner said that she had been doing her best to take care of the little dog, but didn’t have enough money to properly care for him.  Tears came to my eyes as I realized that the voice inside my head had been right.  This little dog was for me.

My husband and I took our new dog, Tiger, home and bathed him.  He was covered in fleas and was missing large patches of hair.  The veterinarian told us that Tiger had suffered an eye injury and a broken jaw from his former abusive home.  After months of love and care from our family, Tiger was back in good shape.  His eye never healed entirely, but he is healthy in every other way.

Tiger is one of my favorite companions.  He is always happy to see me and patiently waits until I get home from work.  He gives unconditional love and I am so thankful that he was the one for me.

Tiger and his pal Cruise

The cutest pumpkin in the patch!!

I’ve always really liked animals – other people’s animals.  But I never really had much of a desire to have a dog of my own.  I had students over the years who begged and pleaded with me to get a dog.  I even had a couple who asked if they could buy me a dog.  I told two of them that they could (which excited them A LOT!), but my only stipulation was that it had to be an English Bulldog.  I knew how much one would cost, but they didn’t.  They were excited and set out to find one.  They were really sad to find out that a bulldog like that would set them back at least $1500.  So, no dog for me.

But then 2 summers ago, I had a change of heart.  I had just finished my doctoral program and the urge just came over me to get a dog.  My nephew had a Shih Tzu, and it was a really good dog.  I researched several breeds including an English Bulldog.  But websites were clear that a first time dog owner should probably not get a bulldog because of their health problems.  So, I ended up with a beautiful little black and white Shih Tzu.  His name is Yoda.

It is important to point out that when people in my life found out that I had gotten a dog, they were rather shocked. More than one person asked me if I realized that I had to feed it and take it out to go to the bathroom as though I didn’t know anything about having a dog.  They all knew that I worked all the time (most days at work until 10 or 11 at night), so they were concerned.

I guess they had a reason to be concerned.  I have always been a person who struggled with work/life balance since I began my professional career more than 10 years.  I was never very good at taking time for myself or just at making myself leave my office.  But then came Yoda.  Nothing in my life (no self help book, prodding by my students and friends, professional conference presentations on the subject) had ever really helped me gain any kind of balance.  But having a dog was different.  I had to go home and take him out and play with him and visit with him.  He needed that.  And I loved seeing him when I got home!  He was always excited to see me – always!  No matter how stressful work was or what happened there or who I had made unhappy that day, he was just excited to have me home.  There is something to be said for having that in your life.

I have had Yoda for 2 years this summer, and it is one of the single best things I have ever done for myself.  When I get home each day, he gets in my lap and wants me to love on him.  And he will sleep all day with me if that’s what I want to do.  And he loves all people and all other dogs.  People say that dogs take on the personality of their owners.  I guess that is true because I have a dog who enjoys sleep, likes to play, and who is an extreme extrovert!  I am now one of “those people.”  You know what I’m talking about . . . one of those people who talks to their dog like he is human, who talks about him as though he is a child (because he is the only child I have), who dresses their dog up for holidays, who sends out pictures of him on holiday cards.  I never thought I would be one of “those people.”  But I proudly am.  Yoda is a trusted companion who helps me to enjoy my life more because I don’t want to rob him of getting to spend time with me.  Yoda has taught me lessons that nothing else had ever helped me learn – that sometimes it’s okay to leave work at 5:00 to go out in the backyard and blow bubbles (because he will try to catch them as long as you want to blow them) or that laying down in the sun to rest on a pretty day is something we should all do from time to time.

I think everyone should have a pet, especially one like mine.   My dog has made all the difference in the world for me.

Wahnee and Yoda celebrate another year together!

Waiting for Santa Paws