Dogs Seeking New Homes

On Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, join Central Ohio rescue groups and vendors for the second Fetch A Friend Adopt-A-Thon at the Lausche Building, 717 East 17th Avenue, located at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Expo Center in Columbus.

The event will run from 11 am to 4 pm on both days.

Volunteers are needed to help with the event. If you would like to find out about volunteering, please go .

There will be tons of vendors on site.

To see a list of vendors, go .

If you know of a rescue group or shelter that would like to attend, please pass this information on to them and ask them to sign up .

To see the current list of rescue groups and shelters who will be attending the two day event, go .

And finally, you can help make this event AMAZING by donating .

To find out more about this mega-adoption weekend, which will occur annually, visit the Fetch A Friend web site .

To Like Fetch A Friend on Facebook, go HERE. You’ll be updated on all the exciting news if you are a Fetch A Friend Facebook Friend (wow, say that three times fast!).

12779106_1678705052386616_2912333566842111739_o-1

10834986_1546548455602277_1077240127349526692_o

On Saturday, May 9, join Central Ohio rescue groups and tons of vendors for the first Fetch A Friend Adopt-A-Thon at the Lausche Building located at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Expo Center in Columbus.

The event will run from 10 am to 7 pm and takes place the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, encouraging mothers to bring a new furry baby home. And if you are not currently a mother, become one by adopting on this Saturday!

Volunteers are needed to help with the event. If you would like to find out about volunteering, please go .

Additionally, vendors and sponsors are also needed.

To sign up as a sponsor, go .

To set up the day of the event as a vendor, go .

If you know of a rescue group or shelter that would like to attend, please pass this information on to them and ask them to sign up .

And finally, you can help make this event AMAZING by donating .

To find out more about this mega-adoption day, which we hope will occur annually, visit the Fetch A Friend web site .

To Like Fetch A Friend on Facebook, go HERE. You’ll be updated on all the exciting news if you are a Fetch A Friend Facebook Friend (wow, say that three times fast!).

We’ll have more news about this first of its kind event in Columbus as May 9 gets closer. So check back often.

MARS Adoption Event Flyer

Please mark your calendars for MARS Petcare’s 6th Annual “Adoption on the Lawn” on Sunday, September 15 from noon to 5 pm. The event, which is held on the lawn in front of MARS at 5115 Fisher Road in Columbus, will feature adoptable dogs and cats, music, kids activities, product giveaways, and prizes.

The adoption event will feature 18 local shelters and rescues including several purebred dog rescues (Columbus Cocker Rescue, Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue (MWBTR)Ohio Pug Rescue, and Ohio Rottweiler Rescue). Additionally, there will be two cat only groups (Cat Welfare and Cozy Cat Cottage) and shelters that feature both dogs and cats (Citizens for Humane ActionHumane Society of Madison CountyHumane Society of Clark CountyNew Beginnings Animal Shelter, Pet PromisePets Without ParentsPowell Animal Welfare Society, and Stop the Suffering).

Canine Collective, Faithful Forgotten Best Friends,  His Hands Extended Sanctuary, and Peace for Paws Ohio will also be among the Elite 18!

We hope you will come out and support MARS and all of the local rescues and shelters at this fun event. To make the flyer larger, please click on it and print it out!

 

To celebrate their new building, located at 2020 State Route 142 NE in West Jefferson, the Humane Society of Madison County will be holding an Open House and Adopt-a-thon Friday, February 10 (1-7pm), Saturday, February 11 (Noon to 5 pm), and Sunday, February 12 (1-5 pm). The official ribbon cutting will be Friday at 1 pm.

During the Open House, tours of the facility will be given. There will also be door prizes, refreshments, and tons of happy animals to meet.

If you bring an item from the shelter’s Wish List, you’ll get an extra door prize raffle ticket.

To read more about the Open House and see the Wish List, click on the newsletter page below:

To read “Bites from the Director,” Betty Peyton, and print out a “Membership Form,” click on the newsletter page below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire February newsletter can be opened by clicking below:

February 2012

I recently received the September 2011 newsletter from the folks at the Humane Society of Madison County. As I had told everyone before, the shelter has acquired property and a building where they will be moving off of State Route 142, about 10 minutes from Plain City (can you read my excitement that they are going to be so close to us?), but in the West Jefferson zip code. Renovations have been going on and they hope to be moved in to their new “digs” very soon. The latest newsletter updated some of the things that are going on with the move.

If you click on the page from the newsletter to the left, you can enlarge it and read about the new shelter and what is going on now.

Additionally, I’ve included the entire newsletter link at the bottom of this posting. The newsletter includes lots of good information and photos of the renovations.

I wanted to include in this posting, however, an invite from shelter director, Betty Peyton, to come take a look at the new building and also help out with some of the renovations on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18. Below is the information on this volunteer opportunity:

On Saturday, September 17th, starting at 9:00am until ???, we need volunteers at the New Shelter located at 2020 ST RT 142 NE, West Jefferson, just a quarter of a mile south of I-70. Volunteers are needed to help finish up painting, wash windows, clean, build stuff, etc.

On Sunday, September 18th, starting at 10:00am until ???, we will finish up all we can.

We think we may already have folks who can build the playpen wall and shelves in the cat playpen area, but there is plenty more that needs to be done.

We are also looking for folks who can help with the landscaping in the front of the shelter. There are a couple dead bushes and others needed trimmed up. We would LOVE to have some fall plants if possible.

All volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer form which can be done that day. If you are under 18-years-old, a parent or guardian is required to also sign the form. Folks can pick up these volunteer forms at the current old shelter at 1357 ST RT 38 SE, London during open hours of noon to 5pm Monday to Saturday or wait until the day of volunteering and fill out at the new shelter.

Come and be a part of the New HSMC Shelter.

I was also happy to read in the newsletter that Madison County is now doing all their spays and neuters in-house and will eventually move to doing public clinics. Because they are up and running with “Neuterville” for the shelter animals, they do have a wish list of needs. You can read the entire wish list by clicking on the flyer to the right to enlarge it and print it out if you would like. There is also a regular shelter wish list on this page, too.

Please help HSMC in any way you can. Once their public clinics get started, we will be able to send Plain City and Madison County people there to have their cats fixed, as it will be very, very close.

To read the entire September 2011 HSMC newsletter, which features lots of photos of the new shelter, click on the link below to open it in PDF format.

September 2011

This past week has been full of ups and downs. I couldn’t really tell anyone much about the condition of Bowie the Husky, because there were too many unknown factors. But with a text from Dr. West that said, “100% our doggie,” I am free to fill everyone in on the panic we’ve been feeling over our husky girl who fell from the back of a pick-up on to Interstate 70 (you can read Part 1 of her story HERE).

Just a quick synopsis: last Friday, September 2, Dr. Kim West was on her way to the Franklin County Humane Society to pick up a dog who was slated to be euthanized. On her way, she rescued a young husky who was riding in the back of a pick-up truck and was thrown out on to I-70 East. Dr. West took the dog (who she named Bowie) to OSU vet hospital where Bowie’s right front leg was amputated.

That is where we left you hanging and where all our troubles began.

On Monday, Bowie was released from OSU in to foster care with a dear friend, Caroline (several years ago Caroline took in a Plain City dog who was in desperate need of a home and we love her for spoiling “The Moo”). The Chief of Police of Dublin was interested in adopting Bowie. All awesome news for our sweet girl.

However, on Tuesday, things began to go wrong. On Tuesday, we discovered that Bowie’s owners had come looking for her. While, at first, we thought this was a good thing–they had missed her and wanted her back–it quickly became apparent that Bowie’s situation might change for the worse if she returned to her former home.

As you know, we had been fundraising to pay Bowie’s bill, which came to over $2700. With the arrival of the owners, the bill was transferred over to them. We still wanted to help another animal in need, like Bowie, so we planned to donate what we had raised to the Good Samaritan Fund at OSU.

However, while the owners at first said they could make payments, they later backed out.

Bowie, in the meantime, was having a difficult recovery period. Caroline was keeping her in a crate most of the time, allowing her to get out to use the bathroom and to stretch for brief moments. But sometimes, Bowie wasn’t able to get up very well and would have accidents. Caroline was cleaning her up and keeping her quiet and sleeping beside her to make sure she was okay.

The final event came when OSU spoke with one of the owners and told them that even if the bill was wiped away and they did not have to pay it, Bowie would still need a ton of rehabilitation and further vet care. There would be a lot more costs.

The owners could not assume this type of financial responsibility. They also told the vet on the phone that Bowie was an outside dog and they could not keep her in their house to recuperate. Thankfully, they then relinquished ownership of Bowie to OSU.

Dr. West called me with the wonderful news that Bowie was ours! She said OSU wanted to wait twenty-four hours to make sure the owners did not change their mind. So, with the text, “100% our doggie,” I knew Bowie was never returning to her old life.

Bowie still has a rough road ahead of her, but she now has tons of people who will ease her troubles. She is not spayed and she must be tested for heartworm. Dr. West plans to get these things done in the next month when she has healed more. She will need rehabilitation and patience and further care for her injuries.

But as soon as Bowie leaves Caroline and The Moo, she will be going to her new forever home with the Chief of Police of Dublin, where she will get a new name (Harley) and a new life.

Finally, I also want to tell everyone thank you for your care and generosity. We have raised almost $2,000 toward the total vet bill. OSU originally pulled the money for Bowie out of their Good Sam Fund. We did not want to deplete that fund, however, in case another animal needed help in the future and we were not there to fundraise. So we are going to try to pay every penny of Bowie’s bill and allow the money to be there for the Bowies of the future! We could only do that, because of you. Thank you, thank you!

On Friday, September 2, our good friend and fellow rescuer, Dr. Kim West, was on her way to the Franklin County Dog Shelter to pull a little chihuahua mix who was slated to be euthanized due to dental disease (Dr. West said the 8-year-old girl only has four teeth left). Ever since rescuing Fruit Bat last year, the chihuahua with the fractured ankles who was left at a bus stop all day until a kind volunteer from Colony Cats rescued her, Dr. West has been a huge advocate for small dogs–finding fosters and homes for them when they are on the brink of euthanasia.

Driving along interstate 70 East on her way to the shelter, Dr. West suddenly saw a dog fly through the air and land on the highway. Dr. West was not directly behind the truck, so she did not see exactly what happened. She only saw an airborne dog and, of course, pulled over to help. A man driving behind the truck stopped, as well. From what he told Dr. West, there were two dogs (one was the husky) riding in an open truck bed. Cars on I-70 typically drive in the 70-75 mile per hour range and this truck was also going that fast. The dogs were trying to balance themselves to keep from falling out. Unfortunately, a semi passed the truck and created a huge gust of wind which caught the husky and threw her over the side.

The truck did not slow down and Dr. West said she doesn’t even know if the people realized the husky was gone. The truck did not return, either. In the panic to rescue the dog, no one got the license number of the truck. I can only imagine how traumatized the other dog must have been when the husky suddenly disappeared.

Several people have asked me if the dog was purposely thrown from the truck by a cruel human. From the account Dr. West was given, it appears that this was just an accident, but obviously one that could have been prevented. Who lets their dogs ride in the back of an open vehicle on the highway when cars are going so, so fast? Unfortunately, it used to be common practice to allow humans to do the same until the dangers of this mode of travel were finally taken into account and it was out-lawed (my husband and I both remember riding in the backs of pick-up trucks as kids). The same type of law needs to be passed for any animal riding freely in the back of an open vehicle. The habit should be banned.

Dr. West said that the way the husky fell out of the truck, she landed squarely on her right front leg and, in essence, amputated the leg herself. Luckily, veins and arteries were only stretched and not completely broken, so the bleeding was not as profuse as it might have been. The leg was dangling, but still attached.

Several concerned people stopped to help the dog and Dr. West said she was worried that one of them was also going to be hit by speeding cars. Her main goal was getting the dog into her car and to OSU Vet Hospital. She said it never even entered her mind to call 911 and get a police officer there to help keep the people safe. She was so focused on the husky that she just went into “save” mode.

Dr. West was on the opposite side of the concrete barrier that separates the highway from the husky. She had to have several people help her lift the husky over the tall barrier so she could get her to her car. This dog was so nice that she allowed them to do all of this to her even while in so much pain. Other dogs might have snapped or growled, because of the trauma, but this sweet girl let them carry her and lift her to safety.

Dr. West said another little girl helped her carry the husky to Dr. West’s waiting Subaru. The poor girl’s pants were loose and kept falling down. She wanted to stop and pull her pants up, but Dr. West said they didn’t have time for that and no one would know who she was anyway. So together they carried the 80 pound husky, with the poor girl mooning most of the drivers on I-70!

After placing the husky in the rear of Dr. West’s hatchback, Dr. West was horrified when the dog leaped into the back seat, leg dangling. The poor dog just wanted to be closer to Dr. West, who reached back and petted her on the ride to the hospital.

Arriving at OSU, Dr. West said the emergency room vet asked what she wanted them to do for the husky. Dr. West shouted, “Save her, of course.” When a good samaritan finds an animal that is that badly injured, most of them do not agree to pay any amount to help the animal recover. The emergency room vet was not used to hearing that. But he obviously did not know Dr. West.

After hearing her impassioned announcement, the startled man said, “Well, then that’s what we will do.”

The husky went in for immediate surgery to have her leg amputated. Dr. West returned home covered in blood, her car also covered in blood, to await the news from OSU.

The very lucky canine made it through the surgery with flying colors. She is a young dog, only about a year old, and very resilient. When Dr. West visited her Saturday night, she was already eating, playing, and even walking on three legs. Yes, you read that right. The now three-legged dog was already up and walking.

I am always so amazed by how quickly animals recover from major traumas. Dr. West is supposed to check on her today, Monday, to see if she can be released from OSU. I have not heard yet if Dr. West has found someone to foster her.

Once the dog was safe, Dr. West was able to think about other things with the husky. She and friends chose the name Bowie for the husky girl. The dog has two different colored eyes like David Bowie. She was wearing a collar, but there was no identification attached and she was not microchipped. Additionally, Dr. West called Franklin County Animal Shelter and checked Pet FBI to see if anyone was missing the husky, but nothing had been reported.

The surgery to help Bowie is probably going to cost about $3,000. That is where we come in. Dr. West has always been our good friend and veterinarian, so we’ve always jumped on board to help her with the rescues who find her. Last year, we helped raise money for Fruit Bat. So this time, we, of course, said we’d help her with Bowie.

If you can make a donation toward Bowie’s surgery, please visit our home page, www.bandocats.org and click on our PayPal button to donate with a credit card. If you donate this way, please just send me an email at bandocats@columbus.rr.com to tell me the donation is for Bowie the husky. Unfortunately, our PayPal donation page does not have a place to put notes about donations.

If you’d prefer not to have fees taken out of your donation through PayPal, you can instead mail a check or money order to Black and Orange Cat Foundation, P. O. Box 126, Plain City, Ohio 43064.

I will keep everyone updated on our fundraising progress and on Bowie on the Black and Orange Cat Foundation Facebook Fan page, which you can access HERE.

At this point, we have raised almost $900 towards this sweet baby’s vet bills.

Just as a postscript in case any of you were worried, Dr. West did go to the shelter yesterday and took the little chihuahua mix to safety. After she saved the husky on Friday, she called Franklin County to tell them she would be delayed and they agreed to hold the little girl until Dr. West could arrive to get her. So an additional happy ending attached to the happy ending of Bowie.

 

I just recently learned that two groups I support, one national and one local, will be moving into new and bigger homes, which will allow them to help even more animals. 

The first group is Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), a charity in Pennsylvania that is committed to “ending the cruelty of chaining and penning dogs.” Dogs Deserve Better is buying “Bad Newz Kennels,” the property that was previously owned by Michael Vick and facilitated his dog fighting ring.  The former site of cruelty and suffering will be transformed by DDB into the “Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.” 

I can think of no better way to honor the dogs that died there under Michael Vick’s reign than by giving other dogs that have suffered a new lease on life.

The 15-acre property on Moonlight Road in Virginia contains a house and various sheds. DDB is buying the property for $595,000. The group has already put down 30% ($178,500) and has been approved for a loan for the rest. Now they just need to raise the additional money to pay off the loan, build a fence around the property, and renovate the buildings for their state-of-the-art rehabilitation center. They hope to begin the transformation from Bad Newz to Good Newz by the end of May.

With this new facility, which will also include a memorial for the dogs that died under Michael’s Vick brutal ownership, DDB will be able to help 500 more chained and penned dogs each year. They currently rescue and rehabilitate 400-500 dogs per year in foster homes nationwide. Until now, the group has never had a shelter.

To read more about DDB’s efforts and to make a donation, please go HERE.

The second group that is expanding into new digs is the Humane Society of Madison County (HSMC).

With their move, the shelter will actually be relocating closer to Plain City (which thrills me). Their new building used to be a church. In fact, in a weird twist of fate, it was the church that one of my dear friends, Paul Carpenter, attended before his death in 2001. Paul was a huge animal lover and I know he would be delighted to know that his former church will now be a sanctuary for homeless animals. I went to several church services with Paul and his wife, Jean, at this building. It was also the place where Paul’s funeral was held in December 2001. I know a tiny part of him will be there watching over the animals. 

The building, located at 2020 State Route 142 NE, is just off I-70 at the Plain City exit. While the new shelter will have a West Jefferson address, they will only be 10 minutes from Plain City. The building is 5,000 square feet and includes five acres. Geo-Sites, Ltd. bought the property when the church moved and now plans to lease it to the humane society for $1 a year for twenty-five years. 

The new site will allow HSMC to house all of their animals in one building. Currently, the dogs are in a block building and the cats are housed in two trailers.

The shelter’s upcoming fundraiser, Cash 4 Kibble Dinner and Auction, will be held at the new building on Saturday, May 21. If you would like to attend and check out the facility, please go to the HSMC web site and download your RSVP form.

HSMC will also need additional funding to help them with their move and renovation. They hope to be in the building by July or August. 

With the expansion by DDB and HSMC, more animals will be helped across the country and in our own back yards.

The Fairbanks FFA will be hosting a 5K Mutt Strutt on Saturday, April 30, from 8 am to 1 pm in Pastime Park (off of North Chillicothe Street) in Plain City. All proceeds from the walk will benefit Union County Humane Society’s H.U.G. (Help Us Grow) Campaign. All dogs must be up-to-date on vaccines and on a leash. Any aggressive dogs will be asked to leave.

Registration for the walk begins between 8-9 am with a welcome at 9:30 am. The walk will begin at 10. At 11:30 am there will be a “Rescue Runway” show of dogs that are available for adoption. At 12 pm a dog costume contest will feature categories including Cutest, Seasonal, and Down on the Farm. The cost to enter the costume contest is $5 and prizes will be awarded to the winners. A trade show of vendors will be open from 8 am to 1 pm.

If you pre-register by April 1, you will receive a t-shirt and dog bandana. The donation to walk is $35 per person. You can also accept pledges.  Registration will also take place the day of the event, but with no guarantees that t-shirts will still be available.

The Fairbanks FFA is also looking for sponsors and vendors. A Puppy Sponsorship is $50 and gets you vendor space. A Best Friend Sponsorship is $75 and gets you vendor space, as well as advertisement on posters. A Best in Show Sponsorship is $100 and with that you will receive vendor space and a listing on t-shirts.

For more information, contact Jody Carney at 937-349-3721, ext. 1326 or by email at jcarney@fairbanks.k12.oh.us

Early registrations may be sent to: Fairbanks FFA, % Mutt Strutt, 11158 S. R. 38, Milford Center, Ohio 43045

When sending your $35 registration fee, please also include a note containing your name, address, phone number, e-mail, whether you are bringing a dog, and your t-shirt size (S, M, L, XL, or XXL–all adult sizes only).

You can also check out this event on Facebook: Fairbanks FFA Mutt Strutt Facebook Page

To celebrate their 15th birthday, Petfinder is asking everyone to spread the word online about adoptable pets on Tuesday, March 15. 

There are a number of things you can do to help get the word out. 

1. You can take the Petfinder pledge saying that you will tell just one person about pet adoption on March 15. If you take the pledge, you will be entered in a drawing to win one of 10 Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vacuums. And then make sure you do tell one person about pet adoption on March 15!

Take the Pledge HERE.

2. Add your own caption to a Petfinder adoptable pet photo on ICanHasCheezburger. Those pets with the best captions will be featured on the ICanHasCheezburger web site on March 15.

Caption a photo HERE.

3. On March 15, donate your Facebook photo and status to an adoptable Petfinder pet (preferably a B and O kitty–if you need a photo of one of our adoptable cats, visit our Facebook fan page or email me for a picture you can post–bandocats@columbus.rr.com).  Or you can also pull a photo from the “Adopt the Internet All-Stars” gallery HERE

Once you have changed your picture, post one of these messages in your status:

More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as possible. 

OR

I adopted my pet from Petfinder and now I want to help get this pet adopted! If you want to help pets in need of forever homes, please repost this!

4. Additionally, on March 15, share an adoptable pet on your Twitter page with the hashtag #adopttheinternet.

For more information on Adopt the Internet Day, please visit HERE for more ideas, badges to post, and other helpful links.

Subscribe by Email