Does your animal welfare organization’s mission statement need a re-write?
Does your organization’s mission statement reflect the current work you’re doing in your community? On a recent Shelter and Rescue Support call, Mandy Evans, Executive Director of Better Together Animal Alliance (formerly Panhandle Animal Shelter) shared that their mission statement no longer represented their organization. In fact, she stopped sharing it because she didn’t like it. It read: “To diminish the number of lost, abandoned, neglected, and...
Puppy Scams Are On The Rise – Here’s How To Avoid Them
Fraudulent “breeders” or “shelters” who swindle hundreds, or even thousands, from dog lovers in search of adopting the perfect pet with fake websites, photos, and worse. Here’s how the scam works: Sellers list a puppy for sale/adoption on Facebook Marketplace or their own site. Often, they will price these dogs ridiculously low or even offer them for free – the first sign that it’s too good to be true. The seller may use stock photos or reuse other, legitimate breeders’ or shelters’...
Cat Appears Headless In ‘Terrifying’ And Confusing Optical Illusion
A photo of a cat shared online has people both terrified and confused. In the photo, it appears as if the cat is headless, and its head is in a nearby basket. Of course, the reality of the photo isn’t that gruesome, instead, it’s an optical illusion. The cat owner, Reddit user i_spin_bubbles, shared the photo with the caption, “One head in one head out. Cat complete.” Naturally, plenty of people were quick to take their guesses of what was actually going on in the photo to create the illusion of the...
Elmer’s Glue
This story was originally shared TheAnimalRescueSite.GreaterGood.com. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! About 8 years ago, I was looking on a Pit Bull rescue site when I came across a heartbreaking story. This particular website was listing the story as a courtesy for another rescue organization on Long Island. As I read the story, my heart broke a million times. PHOTO: Chrissy The story told about an adorable little Pit Bull puppy. This little guy was only 4 weeks old. Somehow,...
Well-Mannered Shelter Dog Doesn’t Understand Why No One Has Called Or Come To Meet Her
A five-year-old pit bull named Mia is patiently waiting at St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services in Lacombe, Louisiana, for someone to choose her. But sadly, no one has called or stopped by to meet her. The shelter recently dressed her up in bunny ears in hopes of attracting potential adopters, but Mia is starting to lose hope. Her bio states, “Is it because of how I look, or my age? Do they not like my Bunny ears? The staff told me posing for these pictures would help me get adopted, but I am starting to think no one will...
61 Dogs Rescued From Van Headed to Cambodian Slaughterhouse
In February of 2021, a minivan was intercepted in Siem Reap, the second largest city in Cambodia, by the Provincial Department of Agriculture. When they opened the back of the white van, they found six tiny, rusted cages with 61 dogs in total crammed inside. The pups were piled on top of one another inside these cages, with it impossible to tell where one dog started and the other began. Without this interception, all 61 dogs would have been brought to a slaughterhouse in Kampong Cham, in southeastern Cambodia. Photo: Facebook/Four Paws...
Tenacious Cat Rescues Itself From Tree By Climbing Down Firefighters’ Ladder
Firefighters from Norbury Fire Station, south-west London, responded to a call from RSPCA to help rescue a cat stuck 25 feet up in a tree, but were shocked when the cat they came to rescue saved itself. Cats are fantastic climbers with strong hind legs and curved retractable claws that propel them up. However, getting down is much more difficult. After spending two days stuck in the tree, the unidentified cat seized the opportunity to get down. Screenshot: Facebook/London Fire Brigade The crew placed a ladder against the tree where the feline...
Influencer Receives Backlash After Filming A Puppy With Its Head Stuck In A Jar
TikTok star Lauren Kettering received backlash after she posted a video of her puppy struggling with its head stuck in a jar. While he struggled, Kettering filmed him and laughed. With over 6 million TikTok followers, Kettering is somewhat of a big name in the world of social media. She regularly posts dance content, day-in-the-life videos, and videos for entertainment. In a recent video that she thought was hilarious, she showed how her puppy Rocky had gotten his head stuck in a jar. But as the since-deleted video showed, rather than help...
Man Adopts A Cat That Nobody Wanted With A Chromosomal Abnormality
Second chances aren’t just for people. There are many homeless animals waiting in shelters for someone to give them a second chance at a happy life. Unfortunately, there are so many animals who are desperate for a second chance. Amongst them, was a cat named Monty. But Monty isn’t like other cats. He is special, as he has a chromosomal abnormality that has left him with no nasal bridge. Photo: Instagram/monty_happiness Besides having a different physical appearance from other cats, Monty also sneezes more frequently than other...
Curious Cat Discovers Her Ears In The Mirror For The First Time
If you’ve ever had an animal then you know that they can sometimes be a little confused by their reflection in a mirror. Their confusion and curiosity is always adorable to watch. In fact, for many of us pet owners, we can’t help but bring out the camera when we see our animal having a moment in front of the mirror. For one cat owner, it was impossible to not capture a very cute moment on camera. In the video, the Scottish fold cat named Marshmallow was caught interacting with herself in the mirror. Photo: YouTube/Storyful Rights...
Rescue Capybara Loves Getting Her Head Scratched
In case you don’t know, the world’s largest rodent is the capybara. These animals resemble giant guinea pigs, who are actually their distant cousins. However, unlike adorable little guinea pigs, capybaras measure about 39 to 51 inches long and 20 inches tall. Depending on their gender, they can weigh 60 to 174 pounds. Interestingly enough, the females are actually larger than the males. These animals tend to be found near areas that are very watery given that they often need to bathe in order to keep their dry skin moisturized....
Senior Dog With Health Problems Gets The Best Life Ever After Being Adopted By Dan Smyers
Our hearts truly go out to senior dogs that find themselves in need of a home. We realize that they are in quite a predicament, and often, they are overlooked for younger dogs at the shelter. Every once in a while, we hear about the senior dog that gets a forever home and that is what happened when Dan Smyers and his wife Abby decided to adopt a 16-year-old pup. Smyers, who is half of the Dan + Shay music duo, went on Instagram to share pictures of the happy couple with the new addition to the family. He described the dog as:...
Dog Hilariously Tries To Save Baby From Sprinkler
This story originally appeared at Shareably. The German Shepherd sure was spooked. That wasn’t how water was supposed to act! Luckily, the baby showed her that everything was fine. Imagine being a dog and seeing a water sprinkler for the first time. You’ve probably seen water in bowls, in the pool, and falling from the sky. But what about water that shoots straight up into the air in a thin line? You’d probably act like the dog in this video. Screenshot: YouTube/Amanpreet Singh It was the first really warm day of the year....
Lilly’s Story
This story was originally shared TheAnimalRescueSite.GreaterGood.com. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! Lilly was my granddaughter Angelica’s little ‘chiwinnie’. Lilly got pregnant by Chico, another chihuahua mix. Lilly then gave birth to 6 puppies! Three males and three females. PHOTO: Antoinette Gonzales Tiny was the runt… so very frail we had to help her find her mommas teet. The remaining puppies were in excellent health. Lillys babies were maybe 3...
Austin Pets Alive! Flies to Rural West Texas, Transports 14 At-Risk Animals
Mar 09, 2021 AUSTIN, TX — Austin Pets Alive! coordinated the rescue and transport of 1 dog and 13 cats by plane today. With the help of private pilot David Nelson, the flight to Alpine, Texas and back to Austin saved the 14 pets at-risk of euthanasia from two shelters as part of APA!’s aim to save 1,000 pets in shelters facing tough times in the aftermath of the recent Texas winter storms. Map updated 3.8 These pets are from Alpine Animal Services and Marathon Animal Shelter, both small, rural shelters lacking resources to care...
U.S. States Ranked Best To Worst For Animal Protection In 2020
Every year, Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a legal advocacy organization for animals, examines each state’s animal protection laws and then releases a list of best to worst. Each state is evaluated on 20 distinct animal protection laws categories, including the newly added “Cruelty to Working Animals”. The new category examines protection laws for police and service animals. The 2020 Ranking Report found many states continued to focus on improving possession bans, with four states adding or improving their laws. Photo:...
Lost Dog Reunited With Owner After Alleged Dognapping Outside Of Store
Edinburgh, Scotland has a history as a dog-loving city. Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier who loyally stayed by his owner’s grave for 14 years in the late 19th century, was cared for by the local population and also received a statue in his honor that still stands. During a tense 19 hours in March of 2021, Edinburgh proved its reputation yet again when the “power of Facebook” brought scores of Scots together in the search for Zuma, a dognapped Bull-Mastiff. It all started one night at 9:30 when Shannon McFarlane’s...
Cops Risk Their Lives To Rescue Cat And Dog From House Fire After Children Cry Out For Their Pets
When first responders answer the call, they’re never quite sure what they may find. A burning house can be anything as simple as a cooking experiment gone awry, or a potentially deadly (and infectious) flurry of flames that threatens the home and everything within. When children and pets without parental supervision are involved, there’s even more reason to worry. Fortunately for one Long Island family, this dangerous, worst-case scenario had a happy ending. The fire broke out in a family home on the afternoon of March 5th, when...
Federal Government Rule Changes Have Left The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Facing Extinction
Bluefin tuna are incredible fish, and have ruled the top of the food chain in the Northern Atlantic Ocean for ages. Atlantic bluefin tuna can live up to 40 years, migrate across all oceans, swimming thousands of miles a year between spawning and breeding grounds, and can dive deeper than 3,000 feet. According to the World Wildlife Fund, they are also tremendous predators from the moment they hatch, with the sharpest vision of any bony fish. Tragically, these creatures are not immune to threats posed by overfishing. Source: Adobe...
Join us for a brand new series: Maddie’s Candid Conversations!
In-depth discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion from those with lived experiences? Yes, please! That’s what you get with our brand-new series, Maddie’s® Candid Conversations. Each segment includes an open, informal 30-mintute conversation with various speakers hosted by our own Mary Ippoliti-Smith. Learn and be inspired by each speaker’s journey promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their daily work. Come away with ideas to keep more people and pets together through respect and appreciation as...
