Our Rescue Efforts

Rescue Diary: Lyles, Tennessee

June 23-29, 2008
Lyles, TN
By Felicia Earley, ASPCA Forensic Veterinary Assistant

In late June 2008, the ASPCA assisted in Tennessee's largest-ever puppy mill raid. We were proud to assist with our special cruelty investigation team that included Felicia Earley, who shares her experiences here.

Day 1

I stayed in our Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit for most of the hectic first day of the puppy mill raid. As members of the ASPCA Disaster Response Team, veterinarian Dr. Ellen Hirshberg, Mobile Medical Unit Manager Chris Fagan, and I saw the animals most in need of medical attention.

Almost every dog from Pine Bluff Kennels was rail thin, matted and dirty, with horrid teeth and very long nails. They all smelled strongly of urine and feces. A few were in need of immediate emergency medical attention. We had a dachshund who had difficulty breathing and had to be put on oxygen. I found out later that she has severe tissue damage in her lungs. I shudder to think of what her life must have been like in the southern heat with breathing issues. We also saw a basset hound who had been lying in the sun and dirt, in labor, for an unknown length of time. The emergency vet said her puppies were stuck, and we all know what fate she might have met if left unassisted.

With all the dogs we met, I cannot recall an aggressive one. They all seemed very scared, but I never heard a growl or saw any teeth bared. At the end of the day, when we saw that there were still so many dogs we were going to have to leave onsite overnight, I helped make sure the ones left behind had plenty of food and water until our return. This is when I met an amazing Boston terrier who stole my heart. For anyone who has ever known a Boston, you know how energetic, lovable and bouncy they can be! I went into the pen that was home to three Bostons—two males and one female. The female seemed pretty young and was intrigued by the large bucket of water I carried. I put food down and filled their empty water bowl. The males hid in fetal positions in a far corner of the cage. The female ran around in circles, bouncing and coming close to me as if she wanted to let me touch her, but fear kept her away. When she realized there was water in her bowl, she jumped into it like a kid in a Disney World swimming pool! She then went back to bouncing around me, trying to decide whether she trusted me enough to let me pet her. She never did, but what a wonderful dog!

When we went back to the staging area that night, we found that the dirty old tire factory had been amazingly transformed, by a wonderful group of people, into a haven for all these neglected animals—dogs, cats, birds, even horses and goats! I absolutely love all animals of any species or breed, but boxers are the ones who touch me the most. My first dog—and best friend ever—was a boxer named Lily. As I walked through this overwhelming shelter looking at the rows and rows of tired, full-bellied, thankful dogs, I made eye contact with a boxer who reminded me of my deceased best friend. She had the same beautiful brindle colors and the same saggy lips and droopy ears as Lily when she didn’t get her way. It was at that point that the full magnitude of what was going on hit my heart, and a lump the size of Texas hit my throat. I sat down and petted the boxer. At first she seemed unsure of what the rubs were on her head and chest, but she quickly realized how great they felt, rested her head in my hand and fell asleep. The tremendous love in my heart made the smells of dirt and neglect seem like the scent of roses. I knew it wouldn’t be long before these dogs were clean, and I hoped they knew that life would never be like that again.

Day 2

On the second day at the scene, we finished up the heart-wrenching exams and all the animals were removed with enough time for me to take a quick ride around the entire 92 acres of the puppy mill. My heart broke and my breath was stolen. I saw the small pen with only a two-by-four board for shelter where the beautiful boxer I met the day before had lived, along with all the other boxers. The pen was surrounded by snake-filled shrubs. Beyond a patch of forest was another clearing with the same small pens—these had housed German shepherds and Newfoundlands. Sporadically throughout the property we saw groupings of rabbit hutches encrusted with piles and piles of feces that had each housed four to eight small dogs. At certain times of the day, the rabbit hutches had very little to no shade from the smoldering southern sun. Those were the homes of the breeding dogs. The puppy trailer was no better, with its rotted-out floors and feces-filled cages.

Day 3 and Beyond

For the few days after the two days spent removing the animals from the scene, people from many different organizations with the same compassion all worked so hard to make sure each animal was examined. We wanted to be sure that in the future, a judge, a jury, and the woman responsible would understand the horrid conditions these animals were in.

These days were mentally and physically hard on everyone, but I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of it. On the last day, when we saw the temporary shelter empty out as the animals were taken by shelters from around the country, an immense feeling that is impossible to explain came all over us. I sleep easier now knowing that 747 fewer animals in this world are hurting for love, food and proper conditions. I thank the ASPCA and everyone involved for blessing me with the opportunity to have been a part of that! Well over 700 beings will sleep well tonight with full stomachs—and wake up to knowing, loving hands.

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LOBBY FOR ANIMALS USA: Speak Out Against Plan to Kill Thousands of Wild Horses

Bureau of Land Management Proposal to Euthanize Wild Horses
ASPCA Position: Oppose
Action Needed: Please email the letter below to your U.S. senators and representative to request opposition to the BLM’s plan.

In 1971, Congress unanimously passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to stop the mass slaughter and commercial exploitation of these magnificent animals. Unfortunately, in the last few years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administrates the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, has changed leadership and direction—and tragically, wild horses have paid the price.

Despite protests from wild horse advocates, the agency began rounding up wild horses at an unprecedented rate. Adoption demand could not keep pace with such drastic removals, requiring the BLM to pay for more and more private, long-term holding facilities. Today, this policy has resulted in almost one-half of the wild horse population languishing in holding pens.

Now, BLM officials want to euthanize thousands of these healthy horses due to “budget constraints.” However, there are many unanswered questions that the agency needs to address before such drastic measures should be considered.

As Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, wrote in a July 9 letter to the BLM: “The potential for wholesale killing of thousands of healthy wild horses marks a complete turnaround in management policy. … [I]t has never been used in the history of this 37-year-old Act.”

Please contact your Congresspersons today and ask them to prevent the BLM from moving forward with this irresponsible course of action that will yield tragic consequences for our wild horses.

Add your personal comments to the letter below, which will be sent to your U.S. senators and representative.

There are other groups out there that need help as well. Please don't forget the shelters in your area. They need help just as much.

Pressroom

Press Release

Calling All Pet Lovers!

ASPCA Appeals for Summer Volunteer Foster Homes for Cats & Dogs

ASPCA Media Contact

NEW YORK, July 16, 2008—Looking for a cat or dog but can’t make a long-term commitment?

The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is sending an urgent appeal to New Yorkers for volunteer foster homes for adult cats and senior dogs as part of its annual summer “Kitty Camp” and “Golden Oldies” foster programs.

“These foster opportunities are great for people who have a little extra time in the summer to care for a pet, but who might not be up to the responsibility year-round,” said Gail Buchwald, the ASPCA’s Senior Vice President of Animal Placement. “It’s really a win-win for the person and the pet.”

Due to limited space, the ASPCA and other shelters rely on foster caretakers to provide temporary care to orphaned, sick or injured animals, or even healthy adult cats that may not be able to compete for homes with kittens, which are in greater demand. The need for foster caretakers is greatest in the summer, when shelters and rescue groups are flooded with litters of kittens, while adult cats remain in need of homes.

“Moving adult cats out of the shelter temporarily provides a welcome change of pace, especially during a time when they are competing with younger cats that tend to get adopted more quickly,” said Buchwald. “For every cat we place in foster care, we are able to make room for just one more at the shelter and save one more life.”

In addition, the ASPCA is seeking summer homes for six of its senior dogs, to give them a break from the shelter: Junior, an eight-year-old Chow/golden retriever mix; Nobel, a 12-year-old shepherd mix; Turner, a ten-year-old pit bull mix; King, an eight-year-old Rottweiler; Bobo, a five-year-old Chow-Chow mix; and Tommy, an 11-year-old beagle.

“These dogs are great low-key companions, and don’t need a lot of exercise,” said Buchwald. “They just need a quiet place to rest and be cared for.”

Those interested in the ASPCA foster program go through a volunteer orientation with accelerated training for those who are able to foster. The ASPCA pays for all food and medical costs, and reimburses carfare and other fostering related expenses. Foster lengths can vary depending on the case. Some fosters can be as short as two weeks, others up to 12 weeks. To become a foster volunteer, please contact Volunteer Manager Diane Wilkerson at (212) 876-7700 ext. 4581 or dianew@aspca.org.

“If you haven’t spent time with a pet for awhile, or if you are thinking about adopting a pet in the future, foster care is a great opportunity,” says Buchwald. “Our foster caretakers find great joy in knowing that they were responsible for giving an animal a second chance at a great life.”

Remember my Lucky Dog blog post? It was about Kristen Limbert, the Coordinator for Humane Education at the ASPCA. While chauffeuring the Henry Bergh Childrens Book Award winners to a fundraiser to benefit a southern California animal shelter, Kristen stopped on a busy highway to rescue a puppy.

Now, that was one lucky dog. What were the odds of an ASPCA van crossing his path, headed directly to the local Animal shelter?! He had no tags, so was dubbed Henry -- for the book award, of course! Kristen vowed that if no one adopted him by the end of the week, she’d take him home.

Many of you commented to that post, wishing the best for Henry. Well, guess what? You get your wish! Kristen emailed this week with this wonderful news:

I thought you all might like to know that Henry, the adorable little critter that let me rescue him off the California freeway has been adopted by a family out there. I had spoken to SEAACA (Southeast Area Animal Control Authority) staff on Saturday, when his stray hold was up, and at that point no prior owner had come looking for him. He was doing well, no longer limping, but still waiting patiently for a family. I was planning on taking him home myself, if he wasn't able to find a new home easily and quickly. Such a sweet dog. However, I wanted to give him a few days, to see if a new caring person would come forward out in CA, saving him what would surely be a stressful flight to NY.

I called yesterday to check on him, and to begin making arrangements if he was still there, and he had been adopted!!

A smidgen of sadness, definitely, but I know it's for the best. Hopefully he will have a happy, healthy life in Southern California. Good news for everyone involved!

SOLE ASYLUM ON FOOTWEAR EXPO:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rezzable%20Explore/95/15/22/

I learned of puppy mills from the Oprah Winfrey show when her dog Sophie had passed away. The producers of the show did a tribute for Sophie and that show entailed Lisa Ling doing an undercover investigation into puppy mills. I could not believe what I was seeing. I do not want to go into details because I will just get fired up and such. I suggest you do research on your own and a gurantee you will not believe it yourself.

But on to the good news. A Tennesse puppy mill has been shut down and the dogs have been rescued.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

30 June 2008

The Humane Society of the United States transported approximately 100 dogs Monday afternoon who were rescued from a Tennessee puppy mill to its Gaithersburg, Md., office.

 The puppy mill housed more than 700 animals, making it the largest mill busted in Tenn. history.

"This case is especially important because its effects will reach far beyond the 682 dogs who we removed from the puppy mill in Tennessee," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.

"By increasing public awareness of the horrors of puppy mills, this case will help countless dogs across the country."

How They Were Rescued

The rescue was set into motion by The Humane Society of the United States' Tennessee state director, who received undercover tips and worked with investigators at the District Attorney's office for the 21st Judicial District to build a case against the puppy mill operator.

General Kim Helper, District Attorney for the 21st Judicial District of Tennessee has traveled to Gaithersburg to take part in the press conference being held at The HSUS office.

Shortly after local authorities executed a search warrant at Pine Bluff Kennels the property owner surrendered the animals to the district attorney’s office.

In turn, custody was transferred to The HSUS—nearly 700 dogs, 25 horses and donkeys, 20 cats, 4 parrots, and 15 chickens.

No Way to Live

The HSUS has worked with more than 50 individuals from humane organizations across the country for two days to safely remove all dogs from the facility to an emergency shelter operated by The HSUS.

The dogs were living in cramped rabbit hutches amid piles of their own feces.

Many had significant health problems ranging from painful open wounds to matted hair so extreme the animals were unable to walk.

"After rescuing these dogs from their previous lives of neglect and abuse, I am deeply touched to now see them begin their journey towards finding loving, forever homes," said Scotlund Haisley, HSUS senior director of Emergency Services.

"Although they had been housed in deplorable conditions, the dogs still crave human love and attention.

These calm, sweet animals possess a remarkably resilient spirit and deserve to become cherished family pets."

The Journey Home

After taking in such a large number of animals, The HSUS reached out to partner shelters across the country asking for assistance in placing the animals.

All 682 dogs have now been placed with humane organizations and will soon be evaluated and put up for adoption.

The Washington Humane Society and Washington Animal Rescue League took approximately 100 of the dogs rescued in Tennessee.

The journey marked a happy new beginning for the neglected dogs.  (www.hsus.org)

Sadly, puppy mills are popping up everywhere, including right here in our own backyard. Just last week twenty dogs were taken from horrendous conditions at a puppy mill in South Bend. You can read more on the story here.

Also last week the ASPCA busted a puppy mill which had a record breaking 747 animals living in filth and disease. Of the 747 animals, 700 were dogs including 200 puppies.

There are several things one can do to help fight puppy mills. Click here for a list of the top ten ways you can help stop this deadly phenomenon.

 *Photo taken from WNDU's site.

This is Part Two of, well, a two-part series. To get the appropriate build-up, please read my Practice Run blog post first.

During last week's cocktail reception, Henry Bergh Award winners were invited to give speeches. Joanne Ryder (author of Toad by the Road) thanked her husband Laurence Yepp during her speech. My publisher Francine Rich got so excited hearing Laurence Yepp's name that I was afraid she’d fall out of her seat. Later on she explained: Laurence Yepp is the author of Dragonwings,a book her son Dominick counts among his favorites. “I got my picture taken with him!” she gushed.

Yepp and Ryder were among the many, many impressive writers at the reception. Mary Alice Monroe was at our table – she’s had a dozen books published already. Maribeth Boelts (her book Before You Were Mine won a Henry Bergh award for fiction) was at our table, too, along with her editor from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. Victoria Miles, author of a number of award-winning books for children, sat across from me and complimented my Lana Turner dress.

We all signed books after the ceremony, but the first person who approached my table wasn't really interested in buying Safe & Sound– he wanted to pet Hanni. I happily relented, unbuckled Hanni’s harness, and let him have at her. After that, many of the 100+ in the audience lined up for a chance to pet Hanni. I mean, c’mon – it was an ASPCA event. They all missed their animals at home. While Hanni enjoyed herself on the ground, Guy Pantangelo (his dad is Animal Precinct's Officer Joe Pentangelo) assisted me at the table by rubber stamping a dog pawprint onto every book sold. Just like the day before, a portion of each book sale was donated to the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in Downey, CA.

When the caterers came to clean off the tables and shoo us away, Cheryl, Marilee and I took our wine to the fancy lobby outside the meeting room. Lounging there in a comfy chair, glass of wine in one hand, Hanni’s paw in the other, my sisters sitting across from me, well, that’s when I knew. I was a winner. None of us wanted to leave.

The next morning we all headed back to the exhibit hall for one last visit – and one last free t-shirt. What a kick it was to be recognized by people at the convention center. “I was there last night!” “Congratulations!”

Hanni brought me back to earth by misbehaving on our way home. As we headed to the jetway to board our flight at the John Wayne airport, a child in a stroller caught Hanni’s eye. The kid was right next to us in line, enjoying a sandwich, kind of flailing her arms, I guess. Hanni took that as an invitation to enjoy the sandwich, too, snatching the PBJ right out of the poor child’s hand. It all happened so quickly that the kid didn’t flinch. Her parents didn’t flinch, either. By the time I got my hands on Hanni’s mouth to root out the sandwich, she had swallowed it.

Ah, well. Even award-winning dogs break the rules sometimes.

It’s been a week now since Hanni and I attended the cocktail reception in California to accept our ASPCA/Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award, and we're both still walking on air. Finally this morning I'm coming down long enough to sit in front of my talking computer and compose a blog post about the big event. Eight writers won the Henry Bergh Award this year, some for fiction, others for non-fiction, poetry, young adult books, and so on. Two illustrators were also recognized with awards.

I was so excited to get to the reception that we arrived early -- the room was pretty darn empty when we got there. Our early arrival turned out to be a good thing – it gave Hanni and me a chance to practice getting from our table up to the stage. You know, so we’d be ready when they announced our award! For the first dry run I let go of Hanni’s harness – I held on to her leash as someone guided us and pointed out where the three steps to the stage were. At the foot of the steps, I crouched down next to Hanni and pet her and rubbed her and told her over and over what a good girl she is. When I stood up, I put my foot on the first step. Tapping my foot then, and pointing to the step, I exclaimed, “Good girl, Hanni! Here’s where we want to go. Good girl!” We were led back to our table. I sat down, then helped Hanni situate herself underneath. After that, I pretended our names had just been announced. I pulled out my chair and called Hanni to come out. She did. Standing up, I lined my back against the back of the chair and commanded, “Forward!” Hanni led me right to the stairs. She was perfect.

She is perfect!

We tried it a few more times – the practice was more for me than for Hanni – until I felt fairly sure we’d make it without me falling. Or fainting. My Blue Marlin publisher Francine Rich arrived with her husband Jude around that time – they presented me with lilies. The fragrance was sensational. I felt like a star. The whole event was first class, fancy hors d’oeuvres, fancy drinks, fancy people. I even had a police escort! Joe Pentangelo, Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement at the ASPCA -- and one of the stars of the Animal Precinct TV show on Animal Planet -- met Hanni and me at the stage and walked us to the podium to receive our award. Find out if we made it without tripping -- or fainting! -- by reading my next blog post, called Winners!!!

Stricter policies on spaying and neutering in other states have reduced the number of puppies available, so operators of nonprofit animal shelters and rescue groups make forays into North Carolina to pull the tail-wagging treasures out of private and public shelters to be adopted out of state.

The practice has been credited with saving thousands of animals from being euthanized in North Carolina, where shelters kill an average of 75 percent of the animals they take in.

But it is controversial among animal-welfare advocates, some of whom say it only redistributes the pet overpopulation problem without making a long-term contribution to solving it and sometimes leaves shelters here with only adolescent and adult dogs, who are more difficult to place...

Click here for the full story

After the shelter event Hanni and I joined my sisters Marilee and Cheryl at the American Library Association (ALA) convention center. Marilee had come from Orlando to join me; Cheryl had flown in from Seattle. We visited the Independent Book Publishers Association Booth to make sure the copy of Safe & Sound displayed there was front and center, then did the same at the ASPCA booth. After that, it was time for the ALA World Championship book cart precision drill team competition. From a blog post on LibGig:

What's that you say? You've never heard of such a thing? What is a Book Cart Drill Team? Well, you know what a drill team is, right? And you know what a book cart is, right? Well put them together and you get the single most nerdcore sporting event ever. Presiding over the festivities were Mo Willems and Jon Scieszka. They entertained the crowd, conducted interviews and provided color commentary while the judges tallied their scores…

There were pinwheels, there were catch and release routines, carts were spun on one wheel. Librarians surfed on carts, did splits on carts, wore sequins and lab coats, and the singing was amazing!

I was not a judge, but the Bibliofiles book cart drill team from the Austin Public Library was my favorite. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you already know how much Hanni and I love Austin. A lot was made of the drill team’s headgear (books that spun!) and I thought it was cool that the team learned sign language, donned white gloves, and interpreted their soundtrack to us. But what really sold me on the Bibliofiles was their grand finale– they rolled out a big banner of a famous Helen Keller quote: “Literature is my Utopia.” It was written in print, and in Braille. They took silver in the competition, and Marilee found a video on YouTube of their performance --check it out!

On Monday we went to an author presentation, signed up for contests, picked up free pencils, post-it notes, books and catalogs at exhibits, fronted Safe & Sound where necessary, then headed back to the hotel to get ready for the ASPCA/Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award ceremony. I slipped on my Lana Turner dress, Cheryl wore sequins, Marilee fluffed my hair and lent me her jewelry. Hanni stood proud as she guided me into the Anaheim Hilton for the event. True to form – I mean, Flo Finke didn’t raise no fools -- we were the first to arrive at the party, and the last to leave. Yikes! I'm over 500 words already! I'm sure you are just on the edge of your seat, though, waiting for details of the award ceremony -- guess you'll just have to stay tuned for my next post!

Emergency Pet Preparedness

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.

Get a Rescue Alert Sticker
This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers. Get one for free HERE

Arrange a Safe Haven
Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Remember, if it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets.

• Contact your veterinarian for a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities.
• Ask your local animal shelter if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
• Identify hotels or motels outside of your immediate area that accept pets.
• Ask friends and relatives outside your immediate area if they would be willing to take in your pet.

Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits
Keep supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:

• Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include)
• 3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter or paper toweling
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for clean-up
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra harness and leash
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
• Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet
• A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)

Evacuation Preparation
If you must evacuate your home in a crisis, plan for the worst-case scenario. If you think you may be gone for only a day, assume that you may not be allowed to return for several weeks. When recommendations for evacuation have been announced, follow the instructions of local and state officials. To minimize evacuation time, take these simple steps:

• Store an emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Your pet's ID tag should contain his name, telephone number, and any urgent medical needs. Be sure to write your pet's name, your name and contact information on your pet's carrier.
• The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted in the animal's shoulder area, and can be read by scanner at most animal shelters.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
• Consider your evacuation route and call ahead to make arrangements for boarding your pet outside of the danger zone at the first sign of disaster.

SOURCE and more info

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Disney emptied out a puppy mill.

Seriously, how did they get so many people to be in this movie? Drew Barrymore, Jamie Lee Curtis, Salma Hayek, etc etc. Maybe they all knew the preview would be on the same screen as Wall-e but underestimated the shudder-inducing power of the preview.

At least Atlas Horn doesn’t. Atlas (he claims this is his given name!) is a groomer at Doggie Bath House, a new business right down the street from us. I brought Hanni to Doggie Bath House yesterday to get spruced up for our upcoming trip to California. I wanted Hanni to get her nails painted for the big event -- we’re accepting our ASPCA/Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award during a cocktail reception at the American Library Association annual conference on Monday.

“We don’t do nails,” "we don't paint nails," the owner told me right away. "We only do nails as in nail trims."
For a short moment I considered going elsewhere. But when the owner introduced us to Atlas, I knew we had to stay. How could I deny Hanni the chance to be bathed by a pro wrestler?

Atlas grew up with dogs, he told me. Dog grooming seemed the perfect way to supplement his pro-wrestling income. “You can make good money wrestling,” he said. “But I have a daughter now.”

Does the responsibility of fatherhood make a pro wrestler more careful in the ring, less interesting to the audience? Does the thought of a daughter at home distract him from crushing his opponent? Do you get paid less if you lose? Atlas never explained. What’s more likely, I figure, is that fatherhood forces Atlas to cut down on travel to faraway cities. There are 12 venues for pro-wrestling in Chicago, he said. “But the work is only there on weekends.”
And so, during the week, Atlas grooms dogs.

Hanni tried to be stoic in the pro wrestler’s presence, but truth is: she hates getting soaked. She hardly ever gets bathed, really. Think about it. Guide dogs don’t need baths as often as other dogs. Guide dogs are pretty much always attached to their owners. Unless we go playing in mud puddles, or get caught up with skunks, or tangle ourselves in brambles, our dogs stay pretty clean. The guide dog schools teach us how to brush and comb our dogs, and if we do that every day, baths are unnecessary.

For our special day in Anaheim, though, I wanted Hanni to sparkle. The trip to Doggie Bath House was worth it. Her nails may still be the same black color they were when we entered the place, but now, thanks to Atlas, her fur coat absolutely shines!

I was alerted to this today. But it seems that cats have become quite a fashion statement since I last saw them. Today marks the first day I have been exposed to the Uma Thurman of cats. I'm afraid she killed Bill, meowed and quietly walked away.  The invention at heart here is the Cat Wig available on kittywigs.com.  You can buy them for $50.00.

I'd say that Kitty Wigs gets hit harder than most businesses in a down economy. Sorry cats I can't afford to buy you new hair this month. I have to pay for my apartment and gas. You think money grows on trees cats?

In all honesty, the Kitty Wigs go to support ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Although the Kitty Wigs are a bit crazy they do support the animals wearing them.

Full information is available at www.kittywigs.com

To more hilarious pet inventions!

Hondo

I do.

I will admit, though -- There are some new fashion colors I have trouble coordinating. Teal, for example. Terra cotta. Chartreuse. When in doubt, I Pair them with black.

One color combination I cannot get out of my head ( much as I might like to) is orange and blue. I graduated from the University of Illinois. I can safely say that even a blind woman could have chosen better school colors.

But to quote the school fight song, I’m “loyal to you, Illinois.” I even bought myself a tangerine-colored skirt and top (I didn’t pair it with any blue, thank you very much) the year Illinois played in the final game of the NCAA basketball championships.
And of course I am especially loyal to my alma mater when it gives me a nice plug – I just received an issue of The Media I -- a newsletter put out every month by the University of Illinois College of Media. What a fun surprise to hear my name mentioned in the alumni section.

Beth Finke '81 JOURN, author of the book, "Hanni and Beth: Safe and Sound," recently received an ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award. Based on publisher nominations and presented each year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the awards are named for the founder of the ASPCA.
Henry Bergh was born in 1813, chartered the organization in 1866, and also spent time working to prevent child abuse. Finke is the 2007 winner in the Nonfiction
Companion Animals category.

Hanni and I leave for Anaheim a week from today to receive that award. My dress?A basic black number, to coordinate perfectly with Hanni’s shiny red manicured nails. We’ll be the belles of the ball.

Please, please, please take the pledge to fight animal cruelty. Pass it on to your friends, your coworkers, your family. If you are like me, you are already a member and make frequent contributions to both organizations. I thank you, but more importantly, the animals thank you.