Clarksdale, MS Animal Shelter Rescue Update

On Sunday January 24, the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team assisted in the removal of more than 400 cats and dogs from the City of Clarksdale Animal Shelter. The animals were suffering from obvious neglect and health problems as a result of living in overcrowded conditions. With the help of numerous veterinary professionals and rescue organizations, we were able to provide much-needed relief.

“We found more than 400 animals living in a space designed for about 60,” reports Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. The animals are receiving essential medical care provided by a veterinary team from Mississippi State University, led by Dr. Phillip Bushby, as well as local veterinarians Dr. Andrea Marble, Animal Medical Clinic; Dr. Jody Swartzfarger, Lawndale Pet Hospital; Dr. Wayne Adams, Adams Vet Clinic; and Dr. Rebecca Coleman.

On January 26, groups of animals began leaving the site with various rescue agencies, including the ASPCA. Six dogs are currently en route to our NYC headquarters, where they will soon be available for adoption.

“Animal shelters and rescue groups from all over the country offered their assistance in placing these animals up for adoption,” said Matt Bershadker, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Group. “This is a great example of what like-minded animal welfare professionals can accomplish when they work together for the common goal of saving lives.”

The ASPCA is immensely grateful for the support of regional organizations that are offering temporary housing—and eventually, permanent placement—of the rescued pets. The Atlanta Humane Society is transporting at least 100 animals to Georgia, and countless other shelters, individuals and organizations are offering their critical support, including:

• Anna Ware of Holland M. Ware Foundation
• Mississippi State Animal Response Team
• Greg Norred with Norred & Associates
• Mississippi Animal Rescue League, MS
• Tailwaggers for Life, MS
• Jane Berry of Sterile Feral, GA
• PAWS Humane, GA
• Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, MS
• Tampa Bay SPCA, FL
• Broward County Humane, FL
• Delaware Humane Association, DE
• Kent County SPCA, DE
• White River Animal Rescue, VT
• Northern New England Dog Rescue, VT
• Bolivar County Animal Shelter, MS
• Louisiana SPCA, LA
• Capital Area Humane Society, OH
• Petfinder.com

The ASPCA has provided a large amount of financial support and resources during this effort that have helped to cover the travel of our team members, animal supplies, vet care and heart worm treatments as well as temporary boarding and transportation of the animals. The ASPCA will also be giving the city of Clarskdale a $10,000 grant to help towards building a new animal shelter for the city and the ASPCA Community Outreach Team will provide professional consultation on proper shelter management in order to prevent a situation like this from happening again.

For the latest information about the animals from Clarksdale, MS, including those who will be available at the ASPCA Adoption Center, please visit ASPCA.org.

Nominate Heroic Pets and People for the Humane Awards

Nominations are officially open for the ASPCA’s 2010 Humane Awards! If you know a fearless feline or courageous canine with a knack for saving lives, or a heroic person who has improved the lives of animals, we want to hear from you. Submitting a nomination is easy—just follow the instructions at ASPCA.org/nominate.

Those who may be considered for this distinguished honor include people who have worked on behalf of animal welfare and animals who have engaged in acts of heroism in the United States during the past year. Categories open for nomination are:

• ASPCA Dog of the Year: for a dog who has performed a heroic act in the past year
• ASPCA Cat of the Year: for a cat who has performed a heroic act in the past year
• ASPCA “Tommy P. Monahan” Kid of the Year: for a child under the age of 14 who has helped make the world a better place for animals
• ASPCA Public Service Award: for a member of the municipal police force, a firefighter, or other public servant who has made a heroic effort to save an animal in the past year
• Other Nominations: any other nomination that does not fit into the above categories

Last year’s honorees included a piano-playing shelter cat; a Labrador Retriever who served as an assistance dog to an injured veteran; an 11-year-old girl who launched a website to purchase pet oxygen masks for fire departments; firefighters who rescued a pooch who fell into a frozen lake; and officials from the Humane Society of Missouri and undercover agents who worked tirelessly in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history.

Winners will be feted this fall at the Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, June 30. For more information, please visit ASPCA.org/nominate.

California Chihuahuas Arrive at the ASPCA

On January 6, the ASPCA Adoption Center welcomed 15 Chihuahuas who flew from California to the Big Apple in search of new forever homes. The dogs originated from the City of San Francisco Animal Care & Control, and their in-cabin transportation was donated by Virgin Airlines. After some post-travel rest and relaxation, the tiny pups will be made available for adoption next week at the ASPCA in Manhattan.

Over the past year, California shelters have seen a dramatic increase in Chihuahua intakes—this toy breed now makes up more than 30% of the state’s shelter dog population. While demand for Chihuahuas has declined in much of the Golden State, their popularity in New York City is as high as ever.

"They're portable, and people like portability in the city," said Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President for the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. Aside from easily fitting in a carrier for a subway ride, their small size is ideal for living in compact apartments.

Gail adds: “We are glad to be given this opportunity to help New Yorkers get the small dogs they want, and at the same time, help find loving homes for San Francisco’s homeless animals.”

The dogs will be available for viewing at the ASPCA Adoption Center on Wednesday, January 13, between the hours of noon and 7:00 P.M. Adoption fees will range from $75 to $200, and include all medical and behavioral treatments, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and a microchip.

For additional information, please visit ASPCA.org or call our special “Operation Chihuahua” hotline at (212) 876-7700, ext. 3210.

Who Does Your Dog Love? Show Us in Our October Photo Contest

Does your pooch love a species other than the canine kind? Does he pal around with the neighbor’s cat or let your bird perch on his head? Does he go out to pasture with your horse or snuggle up to your guinea pig? This October, for the ASPCA Adopt-A-Shelter Dog photo contest, we want you to catch your dog in the act of interspecies affection—send us a great shot of your open-hearted, open-minded pooch hanging with friends outside the canine community. The top five winners—selected by ASPCA staff—will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack and be featured on our website. So get clicking—the deadline for entries is October 31!

Piano-Playing Tabby Wins ASPCA Cat of the Year Award

When Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow of Philadelphia, PA, visited an animal shelter in Cherry Hill, NJ, they never imagined they would adopt a feline prodigy. Nora, a grey Tabby named after the surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, appeared to be your average mischievous young kitten. But this seemingly ordinary shelter cat is receiving an extraordinary honor next week, when she will be officially named Cat of the Year at the annual ASPCA Humane Awards in New York City.

Originally deemed “bossy” by shelter staff, Nora wasn’t the most popular feline among her four-legged clan, but Betsy and Burnell saw something special in the demonstrative kitty and welcomed her into their furry family. Nora immediately established herself as the alpha cat of the family’s four other felines, but it wasn’t until she was a year old that her secret gift suddenly emerged. One afternoon, Betsy, who teaches music lessons, was startled to discover Nora delicately tickling the ivories of her Yamaha piano. Playing the piano soon became the cat’s favorite pastime. Her sensitive pawing, which several newspapers have described as "a cross between free jazz and Philip Glass,” became a YouTube sensation, drawing more than 20 million page views. It also inspired a Lithuanian composer to arrange a symphony in her honor.

Though her talents are unrivaled, Nora has been named the ASPCA Cat of the Year as much for her musical abilities as for her pluck and drive to prove that shelter pets—far from being castoffs—often make the best animal companions. Nora is a true testament to the spirit of the Humane Awards, which every year honor exceptional animals as well as inspiring individuals who have dedicated their lives to animal welfare.

Check our website for a complete list of this year’s award winners, including a guide dog for a disabled Iraq War veteran and two undercover agents who assisted in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history.

Vote on Your Favorite Video: Dog Days of Summer

Last month, we launched the Dog Days of Summer Video Contest by asking you to show us how your pups were reveling in the season. After carefully poring over many adorable and hilarious video submissions, we’ve narrowed them down to our top five favorites. We’ve got everything from the classic dog-versus-hose showdown to an elaborate Pug fantasy sequence (complete with slo-mo and costuming, of course). Check ‘em out and tell us which one you like best!

The creators of all five featured videos will receive the ASPCA prize pack seen here, but your top three winners will get additional goodies! Get your vote on, and we’ll announce our gold, silver and bronze “Dog Days” video champions in October. Thanks to everyone who entered!

View videos and vote now

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #DogVideoVote

ASPCA.org Launches Web Pages in Spanish

 
We are happy to announce that ASPCA.org/espanol is up and running! Twenty of our website’s informative pages have been translated into Spanish, and more are on the way. Most of the newly translated pages cover our New York City-based services, like how to adopt a pet at the ASPCA or where to get your pet spayed or neutered—but many will interest our national readers, too, including how to recognize and report animal cruelty. ¡Bienvenidos!

 
Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on athis rticle: @aspca and #SpanishSite

Your Videos Wanted: Dog Days of Summer Contest

The tail end of summer is officially here, and we want to see how your pup is spending these long, dog days of summer. Catch your pooch riding the waves or soaking up some rays—and send us the video evidence! Upload your masterpiece directly to YouTube and then submit the URL using this entry form. The top ten telegenic winners—selected by our doggie leisure experts—will receive a special prize pack from the ASPCA Store and will be featured on our website. But hurry up—summer’s winding down, and the deadline for entries is August 31! Enter the contest.

P.S.: Have you seen the winners of the 2009 Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest? We asked you to submit pics of kitty engaged in his favorite “cat-ercise.” The public weighed in, and we awarded gold, silver and bronze to three agile felines. Check ‘em out!

Do you Twitter? Use this hashtag to tweet on this article: @aspca and #DogVideoContest

ASPCA Offers Nation’s First Animal Cruelty CSI Workshop

The ASPCA, in collaboration with the University of Florida’s William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, recently offered the nation’s first Veterinary Forensics Crime Scene Investigations Workshop to help increase the number of professionals trained in the forensic investigation of animal cruelty cases and aid in the prosecution of crimes against animals.

The three-day workshop, which took place from June 17-19, offered students—many of whom were law enforcement officers, veterinarians, forensic specialists and emergency responders—a hands-on training experience. Through fieldwork and classroom instruction, students learned to detect and properly document a crime scene, including the collection of evidence, photography, mapping, sketching and the excavation of remains.

The program reaches beyond a workshop, as well. The University of Florida will soon be offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in veterinary forensic sciences. The program will receive an initial gift of $150,000 from the ASPCA and three years of support from our organization.

“The development of veterinary forensics is in a similar place now that human forensics was a few decades ago,” says Dr. Melinda Merck, ASPCA Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics, who was on hand at the workshop with the ASPCA's Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation Unit. “Now there are special prosecutors and special courts that focus on violent crimes—I expect that is where we’ll eventually get with animal cruelty.”

What do you think? Tweet on this article. Include @aspca and #CSIWorkshop

2009 Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest

Has your kitty embraced the latest exercise fad? Is she a master yogi who can put her leg behind her ear, or does she prefer the Olympic high jump over the kitchen table? For this year's ASPCA Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month Photo Contest, we asked you to catch your supple felines in the act of "cat-ercising," and boy did you deliver. Check out our agile finalists, and vote for your favorite!

Announcing ‘Go Orange’ Photo Contest Winners

This April, to celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, we asked animal lovers all across the country to send us photos of their furry friends decked out in orange gear, and we found out something we already knew—everyone, and we mean EVERYONE looks great in orange! Thank you for allowing your pets to join in the ASPCA spirit, and congratulations to all the winning photographers and their four-legged models.

Check out our 10 furry finalists!

One Nation, In Orange

As April draws to a close, we reflect on the orangest month we’ve ever had. What do you mean “orangest” isn’t a word?? Animal lovers all around the country went orange for animals this April—and we have evidence. Check out the photos from our “Go Orange” festivals in NYC, Austin and L.A.

As you can see, everyone got in on the action—even dogs and cats look great in orange!

	Did YOU go orange for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month? Send your photos to images@aspca.org, and we’ll add them to the photo collection.

Hundreds of Pets Are Now Happier in Harlem

This past weekend, the ASPCA's fleet of five Mobile Spay/Neuter clinics offered—completely free!—spay/neuter surgeries and other medical services at the first-ever ASPCA Harlem Community Block Party. Thanks to the hundreds of supporters who attended, the event was a massive success! 

We spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped over 100 pets and booked appointments to serve over 250 more in the coming weeks. 150 pets were licensed.

And this is really cool—over 40 pit bull and pit bull mixes were vaccinated! (A sick pit is the pits, so this is great news.)

Thank you for helping to spread the word about the importance of spay/neuter.  Not only will your care and concern have a dramatic effect on New York City's homeless pet population, but spayed/neutered pet will live longer, healthier lives!

	New Yorkers: To find out when the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic will be visiting your neighborhood, log on to www.aspca.org/877spaynyc, or call (877) SPAY-NYC.

Raise a Green Paw For Earth Day!

If you have a pet who eats, sleeps, plays and poops, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to cut down on waste, raise your pet’s quality of life and color your corner of the world green. Here’s how to Go Green for Pets.

Happy Earth Day to all the animals who make this wonderful world a place worth preserving.

	If you don’t have a pet, adopt one—can you think of a better way to beautify the planet? We can’t!

Who’s Your Best Friend—Your Pet or Your Jewelry?

We know, we know, the real answer to that is a no-brainer, but it made for a good header! But if you are looking for a way to combine your love for pretty jewelry and animals, tune into the Home Shopping Network today at 5:00 P.M. EST. Jo Sullivan, our Senior Vice President of Development & Communications, will present the ASPCA collection—jewelry that shows the world you love animals!

Get ready to curl up on the couch with your pet and your remote. The nice part about shopping at home is getting a second opinion from your pets. If your dog doesn’t cooperate when you ask for fashion advice, tell him a portion of all proceeds go to the ASPCA—that ought to get a bark of approval!

“Woof, woof! Go for the charm bracelet!”

 
Did you hear something??

That was Ollie, an adorable dachshund available for adoption. He will be making a special guest appearance on our HSN segment! To see Ollie and other animals like him, visit: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices/

	If you can’t tune in to the show, view the ASPCA “Heart U Back” collection on the HSN website.

A Block Party Just For Your Pets!

If you need a reason to visit New York City, our block party in Harlem is a good one. Come join us, along with KISS FM’s Lenny Green and Shaila, in the heart of Harlem this Saturday, April 18.

Our state-of-the-art fleet of five mobile veterinary clinics will be parked at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Plaza, and we invite the community to take advantage of our full range of services. Free spay/neuter surgery will be offered to all pets. If you have a pit, you’re in luck! There will be free microchipping and vaccinations for pit bulls and pit mixes.

Oh, and if you’re saying to yourself “Darn! But I don’t have a pet,” you should still go—there will be dogs and cats available for adoption that day!

For more information, call 877-SPAY-NYC (bilingual, 24 hours a day), or visit www.aspca.org/877spaynyc.

Where: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Plaza
163 125th St. (corner of 125th & Adam Clayton Blvd.)

When: Saturday, April 18, 8:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Download the flyer (.pdf) and post it up in your neighborhood!

	Looking for free or low-cost spay/neuter service but don’t live near New York City? Search our Spay/Neuter database to find a location by you!

We’re Painting the Big Apple…Orange?

That’s right, orange. That’s our color, so wear it like you mean it in honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April. We’re going to get down and party on behalf of animals.

So dress yourself, your kids—even your pets—in ASPCA orange and join us on Tuesday, April 7, in New York City's Union Square Park from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. for an evening of commemoration. Highlights include:

• Free refreshments and entertainment, including live music by the X Brothers—featuring Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult
• A variety of pet-themed activities, including caricaturists, photographers and airbrushers
• Meet-and-greet time with ASPCA's animal cops, behaviorists and pet poison prevention specialists
• Fun giveaways and free vaccinations for cats and dogs at our mobile clinic
• The showcasing of some of our wonderful animals who will be looking to find their forever homes
• A spectacular sunset surprise, when buildings throughout the city will light up in ASPCA orange!

Make no mistake, animal lovers—we’ve got plenty of reasons to celebrate! From the ASPCA Disaster Response Team’s efforts during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike to our involvement in Tennessee’s largest-ever puppy mill raid, we’ve had many victories in fighting animal cruelty in the past year. ASPCA founder Henry Bergh would be proud!

	Don’t live near New York City? There’s still plenty of orange action to be had. Check out the events happening near you—if you don’t see one, start your own!

This is NOT A Post About Going Orange for Animals This April

April Fools!!!

Are you hosting an event this month to celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month? Submit your event, and we'll add it to our calendar on ASPCAApril.org!

Join thousands of people across the nation by going orange for animals this April. (Why, that’s today!) Activities include pet parades, adopt-a-thons, bake sales, donation drives, sporting events and more.

To see if there’s some orange action happening in your ‘hood, check out our growing list of events. Don’t you want to be on the list? Everyone wants to be on the list.

On your mark, get set…go orange! (We’ll be saying that a lot this month. It’s contagious, you’ll see.)

	When in doubt, hold a bake sale. There’s a reason everyone loves them so much! C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E.

But Mom, I Wanna Go Orange, Too!

Re-posted from our weekly News Alert:

Know any young animal lovers? Please pass this message on to them:

Hey kids, have you heard the word? It’s time to put down those pencils and pick up some orange markers—there’s work to be done! We need you and your friends to go orange for animals for the entire month of April. That’s right, this is your big chance to tell the world how much you love animals and don’t want to see them hurt. Cool beans, eh?

Here are a few things you can do:

• Join the Club

  Wish there was an animal club at your school? Now’s the perfect time to start one. Ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor, and at your first meeting you can discuss all the cool things you can do to help animals.

• Wear Orange!

  Open your closet and get out those bright orange pants, hats, caps, bandannas, shirts, sneakers and socks! No worries if the orange clothing fairy passed you by, though—orange nail polish makes quite a statement, too!

• Show Your Shelter Some Love

  Ask your teacher if your class can send letters to your local animal shelter, thanking the staff and volunteers for taking care of the animals in your neighborhood who don’t have homes.

So what are you waiting for? Go check out our fun and easy Ways for Kids to Go Orange—and remember, even little kids can create big change when it comes to helping animals.

P.S. A very special shout-out to Mrs. Ferro's class for hosting lunchtime bake sales and making super-cool ASPCA posters to hang around their school!

	Parents, if your kids have a question—any question at all!—about animals, have them Ask Azula. A wiser bird you’ve never seen!

Meet You At the Seaport On Monday!

See the morning sun shine on the ocean, huddle up with a bunch of good-looking people dressed in orange, and still get to work on time. What better way to prove your devotion to animals than to wake up really, really early? Help us kick off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month by joining us in a groundbreaking “Go Orange” photo shoot. A professional photo team will creatively arrange all participants to spell out the letters “ASPCA.” Aerial photos will be taken, and used nationwide to further promote Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.

So, how do you get involved? It’s easy! Just throw on your brightest orange clothing—T-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, hats, jackets, coats, etc.—and head over to New York City’s South Street Seaport at 7:30 A.M. next Monday, March 30. Don’t forget to grab your friends and family members, too. The more participants—and the more orange they wear—the better! Come join in the fun and become part of a photo that will show the world you care about animals! Or come to fulfill your secret modeling fantasy.

What: Go Orange Photo Shoot
When: Monday, March 30, 7:30 A.M. (Ouch…sorry, but it’ll be worth it.)
Where: South Street Seaport, the north side. See map—X marks the spot (we always wanted to say that).

	Don’t live in New York City? How about organizing a photo shoot like this in your hometown? Don’t forget to send us the pics!

Calling All Shopaholics And Entrepreneurs

Spring cleaning meets fundraising! Here’s your chance to clean out your garage and your closet for a good cause. Tomorrow, March 24, we’re going to be the featured cause on the Facebook Marketplace. You can help us out by selling an item on behalf of the ASPCA. You can sell anything you’d like—from clothes to toys to artwork.

If you’ve got nothing to sell, you can always help out by shopping ‘til you drop! See what animal lovers like you are selling on behalf of the ASPCA Today! Thanks for joining us in this fun way to raise money for the ASPCA!

	Have your pets outgrown their winter sweaters? Sell them on the Facebook Marketplace on behalf of the ASPCA!

And Gunther Takes It All!

Yay for audience participation! Remember we asked you to vote in last month’s Adopt-A-Bull Contest? Well, vote you did! We’re proud to say that 23,000 votes were cast online, and 43 percent of you selected deaf pit bull Gunther and his pet parent, Rebecca Hengen, as the perfect example of the bond that can exist between people and this loyal, intelligent breed.

“I am so happy that Gunther was chosen as a representative of pit bulls,” says Hengen, who found her calm and gentle canine soulmate at the Humane Society of South Mississippi. “Gunther loves everyone, and every day he disproves the stereotype that often accompanies these dogs.”

Hengen and Gunther will be treated to a photo shoot with a professional photographer and a bronze statue of the top dog, while the Humane Society of South Mississippi will earn a $5,000 grant and a trip to New York City to participate in the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month celebration.

Four paws up to our winning match, and congratulations to all our finalists in the ASPCA Adopt-A-Bull Contest. Thanks to contest sponsor Animal Farm Foundation for helping us to celebrate wonderful dogs like Gunther, Wanda, Lola and Elsie—and every successful pooch-parent match made through the ASPCA's Meet Your Match^™ program.

	Got a friend who’s scared of pit bulls? Take a moment to set the record straight about this wonderful breed.

Orange You Glad It’s Almost April?

From our News Alert:

Community Leader Contest

As we gear up for the ASPCA’s April ‘Go Orange for Animals’ Campaign to raise awareness for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, we are proud to announce the third annual 2009 ASPCA Day Community Leader Contest.
 
How are you planning to ‘Go Orange for Animals’ in April? Are you dressing yourself, your pet (even your community!) in orange? Organizing a pet parade in your neighborhood? Getting your town hall to light up orange? Whatever your plans, you might want to step them up a notch or two… because beginning March 1st, 2009, we want you to register your ‘Go Orange’ event on www.aspcaambassadors.org and spread awareness of the importance of preventing cruelty to animals in your community.

The most creative and effective entry will win a $500 dollar AMEX gift card and a $1000 dollar grant to the animal shelter or rescue group of your choice.  The winning story will also be featured in ASPCA Action and ASPCA News Alert.

So what are you waiting for? Get ready to ‘Go Orange for Animals’ in April…and don’t forget to register on www.aspcaambassadors.org to tell us how you are doing it!

Rules
- No purchase necessary
- Must be 18 or older to enter; children’s entries must be submitted by parent or legal guardian
- Void where prohibited; Limited to legal U. S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico); ASPCA employees and their families are not eligible to enter
- Entries are subject to the ASPCA’s privacy policy
- Winner will be chosen by a panel of ASPCA judges; the judges’ decision is final
- Limit one entry per household; contest is limited to first 1,000 entries received or entries received by May 4th, whichever comes earlier; winner will be notified by May 25th.
- If you are unable to claim prize per the ASPCA’s guidelines, you forfeit the prize with no further claim on the ASPCA;
- By submitting your text/photo(s) in this contest, you give us an irrevocable perpetual royalty-free right to use your name/text/photo(s) to promote our mission
- By entering this contest, you are confirming that you are the sole owner of the photographs submitted, and writer of the text
- All local, state and federal taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

	Plan ahead! The sooner you get started planning your ‘Go Orange’ entry for April, the bigger and better it’s bound to be!

15 Minutes of Fame for 5 ASPCA Mutts

Line of the day: “He peed on my foot and I’ve had that warm feeling ever since!” Those were Julie Raposa’s words when introducing her dog, Sam, on The View this morning. 

Host Whoopi Goldberg (as if you didn’t know) with Siren, ASPCA mutt available for adoption.

The View held its first Mutt Show, in which ten mixed-breed dogs were showcased. Five of the contestants were dogs owned by viewers, and the other five were dogs available for adoption at the ASPCA! We think it’s great that all of the ladies of The View have dogs at home, except for Whoopi, who has a cat—and a “granddog!” If you saw the episode, OMG, how cute was that segment of Joy’s mutt getting booted from Westminster?

Speaking of the high society of dogville, Westminster’s David Frei judged the dogs on appearance and temperament. He selected the ASPCA’s Eggy, a seven-month-old Dalmatian mix, as “best in show” of the adoptable group. Eggy was then up against Pete, viewer Jill Altruda’s pooch, who took home the grand prize. But that’s okay—as Frie put it, all the ASPCA dogs will be winners by having someone adopt them.

Eggy, runner up for Best Mutt in Show.  “He needs an alpha human in his life. ” —David Frei, Westminster judge.

To see photos and adoption info for all five dogs who are available at the ASPCA, please visit this special page on The View website.

	Teachers, grab a copy of The View host Joy Behar’s children’s book, Sheetzucacapoopoo: My Kind of Dog, to share with your class! You can discuss adopting a mixed-breed dog with your students.

Get a Load of Our Own Best in Show!

That’s right! We had our very own talent show here at ASPCA headquarters on February 13. Eleven canines, all available for adoption at the “A,” and their handlers showcased their talents  for a panel of celebrity judges that included film and television actress and ASPCA supporter Candice Bergen (pictured), high fashion model and AIDS activist Maggie Rizer, President and Founder of DeLuca Dog and Friends, Greg DeLuca and ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Assistant Director, Joseph Pentangelo.

The dogs were judged on several criteria, including overall presentation, dog’s attentiveness to the handler and creativity of the commands learned.

Super Tiger earned first prize, winning the judges over with his ability to crawl, attend “spinning class” and—undoubtedly his fave—take a nap on cue.

 Tiger is still available for adoption. Come on, you know you want to tell your friends you adopted an award-winning dog.

To see videos of the rest of the contestants, check out the playlist on YouTube! To see photos from the talent show, view our Flickr album.

	Encourage your local shelter to put on a talent show. They can charge a small admission fee to raise funds for the shelter and promote the fabulous dogs available for adoption!

Ambassador: Yep, It’s As Fancy as it Sounds!

We put the “fun” in fundraising! Wow, that’s corny. Take 2…aaand…action!

We get tons of messages from folks telling us they want to have an event in our honor—everything from a school bake sale to a full-blown concert. We know you want to help, but you don’t always know where to begin. When you register to become an ASPCA Ambassador, we’ll guide you through setting up a special fundraising page featuring your favorite furry friend, keep you up to date on ASPCA team events and even assist you in creating a special fundraising event of your own! ASPCA Ambassadors will also have access to easy-to-use email tools and a personalized web address to help spread the word.

As an ASPCA Ambassador, you can:

• Organize a neighborhood dog walk, pet parade or benefit concert in your community
• Participate in a marathon, bikeathon, hike or other sports-oriented event and ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts on behalf of the ASPCA
• Participate in an ASPCA event, like the upcoming Wag-n-Walks in Austin and Los Angeles this April
• Celebrate a loved one or commemorate a birthday, wedding or anniversary by raising money in support of the ASPCA’s mission

If you register as an Ambassador, you’ll also receive a 15-percent discount on a selection of orange merchandise from the ASPCA Online Store. Plus, register before February 20 (that's Friday) and you’ll be eligible to win a Flip video camera!

For more information about the ASPCA Ambassadors program, and how you can be a voice for animals, please visit www.aspcaambassadors.org.

	If you know a teen with a passion for animals, suggest she start an animal welfare club in her high school! Club members can raise anti-cruelty awareness and have a blast celebrating their mutual love for pets!

Get Your Inner Art Snob On!

Derek Watson
“White Day”

Debuting in New York City tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, Animalania is a group show featuring artists whose mediums differ, but who share the common bond of a love for animals. We can’t think of a better mid-week, post-work plan than sipping a cocktail while rubbing elbows with downtown celebrities at a fabulous art opening—but to sweeten the deal even more, proceeds from the show will be donated to the ASPCA!

The original artwork featured in Animalania was contributed by 23 artists, including director Spike Jonze, photographer Ryan McGinley, actress/comedienne Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords and The Daily Show) and musicians James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Karen O. and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

Please join us for Animalania's opening night reception from 7:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at Fuse Gallery, located at 93 2nd Avenue in the East Village. If you can't make it to tomorrow's reception, you can still see the show during regular gallery hours—Wednesday through Saturday, from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.—through March 14. Visit the Fuse Gallery website for a sneak preview.

	Calling all artistes! If you’ve always wanted to combine your art with your love for animals, ask your local shelter if you can combine efforts to raise funds and promote your work!

How to Find Love You Can Count On Tomorrow (Hint: It Doesn’t Involve Another Person)

“Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you’re my favorite work of art…”*

It's not too late to find your funny (and furry!) valentine. Visit the ASPCA's New York City headquarters this Saturday and Sunday, February 14 & 15, for our annual Valentine adoption event. As a special treat, we're kicking off the fun with our annual Best in Show talent contest on Friday—and all cats over age 3 are free during the entire weekend!

The ASPCA is located at 424 E. 92nd St., between First and York Avenues. We're open Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and Sunday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information, please visit the ASPCA Adoption Center online or call (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120.

	*Yep, those were lyrics from the song “My Funny Valentine.” How ‘bout serenading your furry sweetheart tomorrow? Who knows—she just might sing along!

Set Your VCR, TiVo, DVR (Or Whatever You Crazy Kids Have These Days)

The Nature series on PBS has always been a favorite of Dr. Emily Weiss, ASPCA Senior Director, Shelter Research and Development—and now she’s part of the show! This Sunday, February 15, at 8:00 P.M., Dr. Weiss will be featured in the episode “Why We Love Cats and Dogs.”

The episode, which explores the close relationships people have with their four-legged friends, will include a segment about the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match^® (MYM) adoption program and how it’s improving the way animal shelters match animals and adopters. Dr. Weiss, who developed MYM, will present real-life adoption success stories. “We are excited about the opportunity to reach the wide audience on PBS,” she says. Be sure to tune in this weekend!

	Why do YOU love your cats and dogs? Drop us a comment and let us know! Don’t forget to tell your pets too, of course.

Get Your Votin’ Paws Pounced…

You know us, we love to promote pit bulls. After all, someone’s gotta spread the word about what loving, loyal, delightful, devoted pets they make! This past Sunday, the ASPCA officially launched the year-long ASPCA Adopt-A-Bull Contest—sponsored by the New York-based Animal Farm Foundation—for shelters and pet parents who’ve made successful adoptions of pit bulls using the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match program.

Throughout the year, we’ve introduced you to our quarterly winners—and now it’s time for YOU to cast your vote for your favorite couple. The pet parent-pooch duo who receives the most votes in our online contest will win a photo shoot with a professional photographer and a bronze of their top dog, and the winning shelter will earn a $5,000 grant and a trip to New York City. Cast your vote now!

And the finalists are:

Elizabeth and Wanda
SPCA of Wake County
Elizabeth Bartow—a shelter volunteer at the SPCA of Wake County in Raleigh, NC—met her match with Wanda, a Life of the Party pit and “fetch-playing freak.” Says Elizabeth: “Wanda’s a wild woman, but we’re incredibly in tune. If I’m having a bad day, she sits with me for hours. If I’m having a great day, she butt-tuck boogies all around the yard!”

The McIntosh family and Lola
Humane Society of Silicon Valley (HSSV)
When Lark McIntosh started her search for the perfect family pet, she didn’t know the color orange would lead to Lola—a sweet-faced pit at Santa Clara, CA’s Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Thanks to MYM, Lark knew Lola was “more than just good looks.” She’s a pooch who loves to go on hikes and “help” in the garden. Says Lark: "Lola is my best friend. We’re connected at the hip, and I know I need her as much as she needs me.”

The Torbin family and Elsie
Western PA Humane Society
When Becky Torbin met, matched with and adopted Elsie from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, her husband was reluctant. Now it’s safe to say he’s been won over completely by the nine-year-old pit bull, who helped him get through chemotherapy and safely into remission. "She would lie across his chest as he slept on the couch after his treatments," says Torbin. “Elsie was truly the best medicine he could ever ask for.”

Rebecca and Gunther
Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM)
Gunther had a bad case of mange when Rebecca met him at Humane Society of South Mississippi, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the pup, who just happened to be deaf. Rebecca decided to adopt when first they were identified as a MYM match, both orange, and later “that week, in a Mutts comic, a white dog was portrayed as saying, ‘I know I'm deaf, but I'd still make a great companion. Just do like I do, listen to your heart.'"

	Tell your local shelter about our Meet Your Match program to help pair the animals in your town with the perfect pet parents!

This Post Is for the Birds

Today is National Bird Day. Didn’t you know—each bird must have his day! We’re working with the Avian Welfare Coalition (AWC) to help raise awareness of the plight of captive exotic birds.

Fun fact: According to the AWC, parrots and other exotic birds are the fourth largest population of animals kept as companions, and they represent the largest population of captive wildlife in the U.S.

To find out more, read our press release.

	Spread National Bird Day’s “Think Outside the Cage” message, available on five posters that can be purchased for display at local animal shelters, libraries or schools. Visit www.nationalbirdday.org for details.