The Dumb Friends League Furry Scurry is Saturday May 1st at Washington Park in Denver, Co. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with your canine pal while raising money for a great cause.

Tanner is a Katrina rescue dog adopted from the Buddy Center

Schedule already booked for May 1st or live outside of Denver? Sponsor a team like Aura Leigh and side-kick Tanner, members of the Online Dog Coach community. Aura Leigh runs Paws Ma Pet Care Services, a Littleton-based pet sitting and dog walking service. In addition to walking in the Furry Scurry, she is generously donating a portion of March’s proceeds to the event.

Kelvin and Kalee, two of the Online Dog Coach stars, were adopted from the Dumb Friends League 8 and 10 years ago.

Live outside the Denver Area but still inspired by the Furry Scurry? Donate time or resources to a local shelter in your home town.

Denver Dumb Friends League, dog walk, fundraiser, Furry Scurry, rescue, shelters, walking Hide

Humane Societies and Rescue Groups have homeless dogs and puppies, often surrendered because their first family was unable or unwilling to work with the dog.

Provide a Home - Adopt a Puppy

Puppies and dogs from humane societies and rescue groups often have unknown health and genetic histories, and may not come with certifications or papers. However, you can get a limited registration for purebred dogs by submitting photos and paperwork to AKC or UKC, allowing them to participate in some sporting events.

One thing that everyone always notices about adopted dogs is that the dog seems to know, and appreciates the home you give them. Maybe we project this emotion, but it’s real to us.

Most groups feature their dogs on services such as Petfinder, but research the group to make sure they are caring for their pets in a humane way. Browse their web site, check with the local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and if possible, visit their facility before adopting their pets.

Enjoy your new dog, and help them keep you as their home – begin a training program using positive reinforcement.

Here is a brief list of dog rescue group types and the benefits each provides… (more…)

adoption, dogs, how to, Puppies, puppy mill, rescue, service dogs, shelters Hide

Some stores, like PetSmart and PetCo, don’t sell puppies. Instead, they work with local rescue groups and humane societies to adopt pets. However, many other pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills.

Puppy mills have breeding dogs that are kept in small kennels with little human contact and minimal health care. I won’t go into details here – I am sure you’ve heard about the recent raids in the midwest, Texas, and Alabama, and you can look up the details elsewhere.

Pet store puppies may be registered, but the lineage isn’t monitored to ensure puppies that will remain healthy. Stores may be willing to treat puppies that are sick when you buy them, but not work with you when a genetic illness develops. They seldom provide other services despite prices being comparable to breeders or humane societies. Purchasing puppies from stores encourages puppies for profit, poor breeding, and the birth of more puppies than there are homes.

Before purchasing a puppy through a pet store, ask to see the paperwork identifying the puppy’s breeder and origins. If they are unwilling to provide this information, find another source. If they show you the paperwork,  puppies shipped from out of state by a broker service are a red flag. Go home and do a little research before considering the puppies.

Sometimes you can find information about the pet store by searching their name along with “puppy mill.” Check the source though, the Internet loves rumors.  Snope the story, or look for information from organizations that do criminal investigations and rescues, such as the Humane Society of the United States and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or local agencies.

Note: This information is also true for kittens and other live animals sold by pet stores. Almost every pet store “pet” including reptiles, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc. have reputable breeders and adoption rescue groups.

Next, private advertising – in the paper, on the Internet, and on the street. Other entries in this series:

• How to Find a Puppy and Avoid Puppy Mills – Puppy Checklist
• Evaluating Breeders
• Through Private Advertisements (next)
• Adopting from Rescue Groups

adoption, breeder, cat, dogs, ferret, guinea pig, hamster, how to, kitten, pet bird, pet reptile, pet store, Puppies, puppy mill, rescue, shelters Hide

“Dogs bred in puppy mills are typically sold at pet stores, through classified advertisements and over the Internet.” (UAN Journal Fall 2009 print edition. Some UAN Journal issues are on the United Animal Nations website) Many puppy mills cover their conditions by having “sample dogs” customers are allowed to see.

Don't support puppy mills. Get your puppy from a reputable source.

So, how can you find a puppy that doesn’t come from a puppy mill?

Where is the best place to buy a puppy?

Who are the best breeders?

When looking for your puppy, there are several places a person might go – a pet store, newspaper or Craiglist ads, a Google search – but these aren’t necessarily the best choices. Before making your final choice, do your research on the breeder, humane society, or other organization to find your puppy or dog.

In this five part series on finding a puppy, I provide guidance and links to help you locate a reputable organization for your new family member.

Getting a dog is a life-long commitment and relationship you shouldn’t enter into lightly. Do your research on the breed to make sure it is a good match for your lifestyle – don’t get a Portuguese Water dog just because the Obama family has one, or a Chihuahua because of the movie. Research the breed first. Find out about the care and training of a puppy – like human children, they need to chew, learn, and grow – and you’ll need to guide your puppy appropriately. Learn about the organization from which you are getting the puppy to ensure a healthy addition to your family that supports proper breeding practices, or maybe even saves a life.

Factors to consider when choosing a puppy… (more…)

adoption, breeder, dogs, pet store, Puppies, puppy mill, rescue, shelter Hide

Shelter or Rescue??

Nearly six years ago, we were at the Dog Expo held annually at the National Western Complex in Denver. We walked through the rescue group area looking for the Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue group. They were not there that day. However, the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies was there with two of their dogs. One was a seven month old, the other, seven years. The older dog nuzzled over to us, resting his head on our laps when we sat down. When we learned his name was Barney, the same name as our Rhodesian who had died a few months earlier, we knew another Golden Retriever would soon join our home. Right now Barney is asleep at my feet, secure in the knowledge that he has a forever home with us. I cannot fathom why someone gave him up, but very grateful that we were there that day to have him find us.

Where will you find this new member of your family? There are city and county run shelters in almost all communities. There are also many privately run shelters. Most will do their very best to avoid euthanasia, and use it only as a last resort when they are way too crowded. This is a hard reality that is unavoidable. Many of the private shelters are no kill shelters, and they have to work extra hard for donations to feed and shelter all the critters that come their way.

In addition to shelters, there are rescue organizations for just about any breed of dog you might be interested in. (more…)

adoption, Puppies, rescue, shelters Hide