Voluntarily Showin' Gratitude

It's National Volunteer Week! The staff at the ASPCA Adoption Center has decorated the building for the volunteers and is providing yummy treats all week. Our volunteers are crucial to the well-being and happiness of our animals.

If you've thought about volunteering at an animal shelter, this is the perfect time to check out your options! Visit your local shelter and ask how you can help! If you live in New York City, you can volunteer at New York City Animal Care and Control.

If you're already a volunteer, thank you for your important, selfless work. We couldn't do it without you.

Live Chat about "ER Vets"Tomorrow!

Henry's Book Club is pleased to host Donna Jackson, Henry Bergh Children's Book Award winning author of ER Vets, for a live chat tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. EST.

Please show your support for Henry's Book Club, and join in the fun. Donna will answer all your questions about the life of ER Vets. Please invite your whole family to participate--it's easy to register.

Adoption Diaries: Lap of Luxury

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I like to get down and dirty with the animals. Or, to be more accurate, down and furry. My black skirt was definitely "decorated" during my last visit, but it was worth it to have Snickers and Lady on my lap.

Snickers has a "lap cat" sign posted on his door, so of course I had to test this theory and try him out. While I was playing with him, a few potential adopters entered the room. He wanted to check out the action, and investigated the novel one woman was carrying in her tote bag (she asked Snickers if he was a member of Oprah's Book Club, too!). But the second the people left and the door closed behind them, he walked over to where I was sitting and hopped on to my lap! There he stayed and there he purred. He was a hard one to put back.

This is three-year-old Lady. Believe it or not, Lady was returned for being too much of a lap dog! Apparently her adopters wanted a more active pet. This isn't a problem we often encounter--it's usually the opposite! Dogs are returned for being too hyper! I'm hoping that story will make Lady all the more appealing and get her a loving home fast. I know I couldn't resist her after hearing that! Bring on the affection, Lady!

One of my favorite things to do when visiting the ASPCA Adoption Center is check out the wall of success. This is where photos are posted of our former animals, now in happy homes. We're very grateful when adopters send us pictures and letters with updates. If you've rescued your pet from a shelter, do take a moment to contact the staff with an update. It will make their day!

In other news, I have two very exciting adoptions to report! Myles, the bowling trickster I just wrote about last week, and Fiona, another longtime feline resident. I give credit to our volunteers, who are so, so good at guiding adopters toward our needier animals.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Live Chat with ASPCA Animal Behaviorists--Tomorrow!

My cat doesn’t seem to know the difference between his scratching post and our new couch—help!

Everything in our house has been deemed a chew toy by our new puppy—what can we do?

How can I keep my cat out of my baby’s crib?

Can I prevent my dog from jumping up on guests?

We’d all love to understand our pets better, especially when they get their paws, noses and whiskers into mischief! That’s why we decided to host a four-hour pet behavior chat with three of our experts! Please join us tomorrow, Friday, in our ASPCA Online Community as we speak with the ASPCA’s Dr. Jennifer Sobie, Lifeline Behaviorist; Kristen Collins, CPDT, Animal Trainer and Carmen Buitrago, MSc, CPDT, Associate Behaviorist and Trainer. The live discussion will take place from noon to 4:00 P.M. EST.

“Behavior is our route to affinity with animals,” says Dr. Sobie. “Behavior is both the expression and the means to improve the welfare of animals in our lives.”

Don’t miss this exciting chance to participate in our special behavior discussion—twice the time, twice the information—and learn what makes your pets do the cute, not-so-cute and crazy things they do.

In Praise of Older Cats; Tell Us Your Story

Has your elderly kitty retired into luxurious windowsill lounging, reminiscing over her lifetime of catnapping and chasing felt mousies? It's not uncommon for cats to reach their twentieth birthday, and this June, for Adopt-A-Shelter Cat month, we want to honor your wise old buds.

If you have an elderly feline who’s living the good life in her golden years, please send a photo and adoption story to catstory@aspca.org. You may be featured on our website this June.

Happy Earth Day!

The green scene in 2008 has gone beyond gardens—it now includes litter boxes and doggie treats. This Earth Day, you don’t need a green thumb to help the planet. If you have an animal companion 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.

Top Ten Ways to Go Green for Pets

Spring Cleaning
Empty out the dark corners of your closets, basement and attic, but before throwing your dusty treasures away, call your local shelters and ask if they need old towels, bedding, leashes, litter boxes and pet toys. They may even be looking for unused printers and computer monitors.

Water Works
Give your pet filtered tap water instead of bottled to drink. If you must use bottled, be sure to recycle.

The Power of Poop
Scoop dog poop with biodegradable bags instead of plastic bags from the grocery store. If you’re a suburbanite (or an urbanite with a lawn), do some research on doggie septic systems—they help keep your lawn free of smelly surprises and break waste down into a liquid the ground can absorb. And kitty parents, go for eco-friendly cat litters, avoiding brands with mined minerals.

Green Grooming
Use earth-friendly pet shampoos and grooming products whenever possible.

Garden of Delights
If you have space, consider growing your own garden for your fruit- and veggie- loving reptiles and small mammals. Before using insecticides, research mulching and other gardening practices that can help reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides you might need.

Spot On
Should your furry love leave a little dribble (or more) on the carpeting or floor, don’t reach for the bleach. Use vinegar instead. This environment-friendly liquid can act as an effective odor-remover and can kill mold and bacteria. Please keep in mind, though, that vinegar must be diluted correctly with water.

Cutting Back is Going Green
There are plenty of small ways to cut back on energy and materials.

· Instead of using a blow dryer to dry your freshly bathed pet, towel or air dry her.

· Walk your dog to the doggie park rather than driving there.

· Cut down on paper products—clean up with rags or recycled paper towels.

· Put light and heating bulbs in your reptile and fish habitats on timers.

Put Your Foot Down
Don't wear shoes in the house. They bring extra pesticides, fungicides and dirt inside—your pets are exposed enough when licking their paws after walking outside on treated surfaces. (Of course, you should wipe all paws before letting them back into the house!)

Green Goodies
Consider making your own healthy dog biscuits and storing them in reusable containers. If you purchase store-bought treats, buy them in cardboard packaging and be sure to recycle.

Bulk Up
Buy pet supplies in bulk or the largest available size. You’ll make fewer trips to the store and cut down on packaging to discard of.

Adoption Diaries: Having a Ball

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

So last night I volunteered at the Bergh Ball (Bergh is the guy who founded the ASPCA 142 years ago). This is our annual black-tie charity event. One of my jobs was to make sure the six dogs from our adoption center were out on the ballroom floor on time. How funny, the concept of giving dogs their cues!

The highlight of my evening was when I talked to two tall, pretty, skinny women for a good five minutes before realizing they were Miss USA and Miss Universe. They posed with the dogs and made their exit, presumably moving on to the next hot event in town. For the record, because I know you're dying to know, Miss Universe has 2 dogs and a cat, and Miss USA has no pets (but was glad to not have to leave them behind as she travels all year).

One of the dogs we featured last night was Cali. The pretty pit has been with us for a while now, and I was excited to see that she was put on hold this morning. I wonder if she met her match last night?

That covers the glitz and glamour portion of my entry. Now onto the business of this week's visit to the adoption center.

Tobias just had his eye removed due to infection, but this 8-month-old is happy as a clam now. He was full of playful cheer and purrs.

Hooch is a gorgeous senior mastiff who knows his basic manners and is a reigning couch potato. He recently had surgery, so for now he's chillin.'

Can't...roll...over... Almost...there...

Gibbons is 9 years old and can get spoiled and cranky, but that's just because he's been here since October. Who can blame him for being restless? He's nice when he wants to be, and likes other cats.


The kool kat in this video is Myles, our pet of the week. He has been learning tricks diligently from Katie Watts, ASPCA Feline Behavior Counselor. Between you and me, I think most cats would "bowl" if bowling means crashing into neatly lined up objects. But trust me, Myles is smart anyhow--he can also sit, wave and spin!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Awarded for Justice, Our Role in Vick Case Honored

A few of our staff members were bummed about missing our NYC festivities on April 10, ASPCA Day, but they had a good reason--they were busy in Virgina, receiving awards!

At the ceremony for the U.S. Attorney's Office 2008 Law Enforcement Public Service Awards, four of our key staff members were recognized for their invaluable assistance in the federal investigation of ex-NFL star Michael Vick. The investigation—remarkable for the way it captured the public’s attention and for the wealth of resources invested by the federal government—called upon our experts to provide essential aid in veterinary forensics and to play a key role in the rescue of 49 dogs found on Vick’s Surry County, VA, property.

At the private award ceremony on April 10, presided over by Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, ASPCA staff members represented the only animal welfare organization in a room full of FBI agents and other law enforcement heroes. Dr. Melinda Merck, ASPCA Senior Director, Veterinary Forensics; Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, CAAB, Executive Vice President, National Programs; Dr. Randall Lockwood, CAAB, Senior Vice President, Anti-Cruelty Initiatives and Legislative Services, and Dr. Pamela Reid, CAAB, Vice President, Animal Behavior Center, each received an award for providing invaluable assistance in one of the most significant cases in the history of animal cruelty prosecution.

"It was very special to receive this award with my colleagues on the ASPCA's anniversary,” says Zawistowski. “The dedication and effort extended by the federal prosecutor and investigators, along with the public support for the effort, clearly confirmed that the mission we have followed for the past 142 years is alive and well."

For more information on the ASPCA’s groundbreaking anti-cruelty initiatives, please visit ASPCA.org.

Time to Talk Puppy Mills

This is a great time for an interactive discussion on puppy mills. Not only is April Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month, but Oprah's recent episode on puppy mills gave them much needed exposure. This is a topic on everyone's minds, and it couldn't be more important.

Join us Friday, April 18, from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST, to talk puppy mills with Bob Baker, ASPCA Investigator, ASPCA Anti-Cruelty Initiatives. He is a key player in our ongoing efforts to combat the cruelties of puppy mills and large-scale commercial breeding operations. The chat will take place on the ASPCA Online Community.

Here, arm yourself with some great puppy mill information in preparation for the chat.

Action Against the So-Called "Greatest Show"

We have urged Turner Network Television (TNT) to immediately cancel Greatest Show on Earth, its upcoming series that touts a “behind-the-scenes” look at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Unfortunately, the real behind-the-scenes story is one of unrelenting cruelty to animals: the abuse of Ringling Bros. circus elephants has been exhaustively documented by animal welfare organizations, state humane agencies and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors. The ASPCA—currently involved in a lawsuit against the circus for violations of the federal Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act—urges all those who care about animals to speak out against TNT’s new show.

In a March 19 letter to Turner Network’s president Steve Koonin, ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres wrote, “To entertain the unsuspecting public at the expense of the welfare of these noble animals goes against all tenets of humanity and our responsibility to protect the animals with whom we share the earth. TNT’s viewers should certainly not be subjected to such hypocritical and unethical programming.”

You can help us speak out against Greatest Show on Earth by emailing its producers, Mark Wolper and Al Hassas, at kathleen.doise@wbtvprod.com and al@thecollective-la.com, respectively. TNT president Steve Koonin can be contacted at anne.smith@turner.com. Letters may be sent to: Steve Koonin, President, Turner Network Television, 1010 Techwood Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

You can further fight animal exploitation and abuse by taking the ASPCA’s Pledge to Fight Animal Cruelty. Just a click will help you learn how to identify and report abuse, stay up-to-date on the latest animal cruelty news and learn how to write letters to your legislators in the name of animals.

To learn more about circus cruelty, please visit www.aspca.org/circus.

A City Aglow in Orange

You requested to see photos of buildings that went orange on ASPCA Day! Your wish is our command and stuff.

Here are the Empire State Building and the Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square. Doesn't everything look better in orange? These pics would look better if there were stars, but yeah, we don't really get stars in New York.


Watching the sun go down and buildings go orange was a lovely way to end the evening last Thursday. By the way, if you have any photos of buildings that went orange in your area, let us know via comment, and we'll get back to you with where to send 'em.

ASPCA Day--The Aftermath

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Huh? Oh, excuse us, we're still exhausted from all the celebrating yesterday! Thanks for helping us celebrate ASPCA Day! We hope you had as much fun as we did. We’re honored by all the landmarks that lit up in orange last night, including the Empire State Building, the Sears Tower—and even Niagara Falls! But we are even more moved by your outpour of affection and support for all those wonderful animals out there who need homes. ASPCA Day may be officially behind us for this year, but there’s still more fun to be had and more awareness to spread! Make sure you stay tuned to our website to keep up to date on how to help fight animal cruelty—and if you were at Union Square in New York City with us yesterday, you just might see yourself decked out in orange when we post our photos!

So, how did you celebrate yesterday? Are you a teacher who had your class dress up in orange? Did you organize a special event in your area to spread the word about fighting animal cruelty? We wanna hear your story, so enter our Community Leader contest. You could win a trip to New York City!

If you don’t want to enter the contest, but still want to share photos and stories from your community’s ASPCA Day celebration, you can do so on the ASPCA Day Group on our Online Community. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again!

Happy ASPCA Day!

Of course, you're not reading this. You're out celebrating ASPCA Day, right? As for us, our birthday is barely halfway through, but we've already had tons of action today. Our staff members and volunteers went orange at the New York City morning shows! Here we are at the CBS Early Show, bright-eyed and bushy tailed...

...Some of us more bushy tailed than others.

What would ASPCA Day be without these guys? This is Arthur...

And here's Pepper (such a ham!) with our own Senior Manager of Professional Communications, Dana Farbman, CVT .

CBS weatherman Dave Price adopted his dog from the ASPCA!

Who's that lady hiding behind our ad in today's newspaper? We'll give you a hint.

Now, THIS is what ASPCA Day is all about. Is that dedication or what??

OK, gotta go now. We're heading over to Union Square to attend the ASPCA Day festivities! We're excited to see the Empire State Building light up in orange tonight. Check out our full list of buildings and landmarks lighting up in orange tonight--maybe there's one near you! Have fun everyone, and thank you for your support. We couldn't do it without you.

ASPCA Day--You're Only a Day Away!

After weeks of preparation and excitement, we’re so thrilled that ASPCA DAY will finally be here tomorrow! We asked you what you’re doing to help celebrate. Here are some highlights from members of the ASPCA Day Group on our Online Community:

* My friends and I put posters around our school and made an announcement on the intercom, and told everyone to go orange for the animals. We made T-shirts for Thursday, April 10, and sold them, and now we are going to donate that money to ASPCA. So on Thursday everyone will wear their orange shirts.
-Shelbie, 14
Colorado Springs

* I'm wearing orange and so are my kids.....my son's 3rd grade class is also wearing orange!!!
-Andrea
Caldwell

*One member, Jamie, wanted to give a shout out to a special vet:

How about some recognition for the people who do it every day! Here in Spokane, WA, Dr. Kathy Tucker volunteers her time (and I'm sure her money for the medications) every week to give shots and basic veterinary care to the pets of homeless and low income individuals. Without her, many pets would go without needed vaccinations and health care. She has been doing this for as long as I can remember and does it free of charge (for those who can't afford to donate). I've never seen her turn anyone away based on ability to pay. Hurray for Dr. Tucker—somebody should give her some recognition for her dedication to the health and welfare of animals!!!
(Thanks, Jamie, you did just that!)

*And hey, ASPCA Day even brings some laughs:

Mad Cowford Improv Presents Comedy for Critters
Jacksonville’s Improv Troupe Hosts Comedy Show to Benefit ASPCA

Mad Cowford Improv, Jacksonville’s only live improvisational comedy troupe, will host a comedy show to benefit the ASPCA. This event is being sponsored by Allstate Credit Division.

Performers will wear orange to promote awareness of ASPCA Day, and audience members are also encouraged to wear orange. There is a suggested donation of $10.00 for tickets. 100% of proceeds benefit the ASPCA, and Allstate Credit Division will match all donations with an additional 15%.

Mad Cowford Improv organized the comedy event in recognition of the ASPCA’s contributions to the First Coast. Last year the ASPCA provided a $10,000 emergency grant to the Jacksonville Humane Society after a tragic fire consumed one of the buildings that had housed more than 150 dogs and cats.

“Many of the Mad Cowford players have rescued pets, so the ASPCA is an organization we believe in,” says cast director John Kalinowski. “It’s the APSCA’s 142nd birthday, which of course is 994 in dog years. Go Orange!”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks so much to all of you for your support! Be sure to check in with us Friday and enter the Community Leader contest (you can win a trip to NYC!). If you're not into contests, just log in to our ASPCA Online Community and send us photos and stories of how you went orange.

Last but not least...New Yorkers, see you tomorrow in Union Square! With orange on.

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate ASPCA Day

April 10 is almost here—and we hope you’ll join us Thursday in celebrating the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals and the joy they bring to pet parents everywhere. Weren’t able to finish knitting those matching orange sweater-and-bootie sets for your canine clan? No worries—we’ve got a list of ten easy and effective things you can do to show you care about animals—on ASPCA Day and every day! Whether you send an eCard to friends asking them to go orange for animals, sign our pledge to fight animal cruelty or wear your brightest orange tie, we thank you for joining us.

P.S. Could you be the 2008 Community Leader? Enter our contest on April 11 and tell us how you rocked ASPCA Day. You could win a trip to New York City.

Live Chat With Officer Annemarie Lucas--Tomorrow!

Going orange for ASPCA Day this April 10? Great! We’ve planned some exciting events for this special day, which honors the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals. Many of these victories resulted from the lifesaving work of our ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officers, whom you’ve probably seen in action on Animal Planet’s hit series, Animal Precinct. To learn more about their work, please join us for a talk with ASPCA Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas at our ASPCA Online Community tomorrow, Tuesday, April 8, from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST. Don’t miss this chance to talk to one of the ASPCA’s finest and find out how to prevent animal cruelty in honor of ASPCA Day!

Letter From Our VP: How ASPCA Day Moves and Inspires

To kick off this exciting week—ASPCA Day is Thursday, but we’re already in the spirit around here!—we have a special guest blogger. Jo Sullivan, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Development and Communications, wanted to share with you how ASPCA Day has touched and inspired her. She will be speaking at Union Square in New York City on Thursday—don’t miss it! So without further ado, here’s Jo:

As April 10 approaches, I am struck by the sense of excitement people are feeling for ASPCA Day. What started out as a few people posting notices on meet-up sites and asking their friends to "do something orange" has turned into the largest event the ASPCA has. It is humbling to know how many people we touch and how much our work means to the pet loving part of our population. Last year we poured over stories and photos across the country and were moved to tears by so many of them. One that stands out is the story of a privately owned nursing home—the residents, the facility, even the staff all went orange. They sent pictures of four-legged babies with all the residents, and pictures of all the decorations and orange snacks anybody could want. My mother was suffering from Alzheimer's at that time and in a nursing home herself. Knowing how much happiness and comfort my dogs brought their Grandma when they visited, I was especially touched at how some special people brought joy to that group and helped us go orange—even in a nursing home. Schools, banks, neighborhoods—the stories went on and on and we were honored by every single effort.

When I started here in 1999, it was the realization of a life-long dream to help animals. True, I thought I'd end up being Dr. Doolittle and have the power to speak to critters—but speaking for them is close enough. April 10 has a special significance to me because it allows us all here to take a moment and celebrate what we've done. To acknowledge homeless pets and animal cruelty can be hard, slow to change, painful to see and sometimes it seems overwhelming. But to allow ourselves to look around at the victories we've achieved makes it worthwhile.

April 10 acknowledges that 142 years ago, a brave man named Henry Bergh felt animals were important enough to form the first animal welfare society in North America, and that 142 years later, we are still here. Still fighting. Still winning. And most importantly still loving the animals we serve. Join us and go orange— tie a ribbon on your car, your wrist or your front door. When somebody asks "What's that mean?" you can tell them that you are going orange for animals and to check out the ASPCA's website to find out how they can go orange, too.

Adoption Diaries: They're Not Fat, They're Big Boned

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Most of our animals get adopted pretty quickly, but an unfortunate few get stuck here sometimes. Pasmin is one of them. He's been at our adoption center since July, 2006. He holds the honor of being our largest cat. I can't figure out why he doesn't have a home yet, especially since I'm a sucker for long-hairs and white-hairs, and he's both! He's just beautiful. I don't know how many New Yorkers read this blog, but if you are in the area, please look into adopting our 7-year-old Pasmin.


Here's one cat who can carve a big Z in your heart: Zorro! Ain't he funny? That's all he wanted to do--roll and roll, and roll some more!



Then there's Monroe, who I think shares a striking resemblance to Harrison Ford. They both have the same adorable one-sided smirk. What do you think?
I really like this guy, Slice. He's just 7 months old, and that giant tongue is always out, wagging happily! I don't know if he liked me so much. He thought I was taking him for a walk and was bummed out when I didn't. Slice, I owe you a walk.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Catch Oprah's Puppy Mill Show Today

As an animal advocate, you are well aware of the horrors of puppy mills, and may know that there are thousands of these large-scale breeding facilities all over the United States—but many Americans don’t.

Thanks to The Oprah Winfrey Show today, millions of viewers will learn about the realities of this cruel industry. Oprah’s investigator, Lisa Ling, went undercover into a handful of Pennsylvania’s puppy mills to bring national attention to the abuses that take place there. Raising awareness is one of the most important ways to effect change for puppy mill dogs—and we are so grateful to Oprah for tackling this important issue. Please take a moment and thank The Oprah Winfrey Show—and encourage her to do a follow-up!

For more information about today’s show, and about puppy mills, please click here.

He Steals Expensive Jewelry—and Hearts!

John Grogan’s adorable book, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog, is now available in paperback with new materials and photos. So why has this New York Times bestseller received almost 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.com? Probably because it features a very naughty but loveable canine—and we can all relate to that, right? We love this story of a young couple’s lessons in love and tolerance at the hands—er, paws—of a 97-pound Labrador retriever. You can grab your copy at our ASPCA store!

April is All About the Animals

Happy April! We fool you not—April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month! It also just happens to be the month ASPCA Day falls. Henry Bergh, who founded the ASPCA 142 years ago, would be very proud!

What can you do to help animals this month?

1. Take the pledge to fight animal cruelty.
2. Invite your friends to do the same!
3. Go orange for ASPCA Day this April 10th!
4. Read the top 10 ways to prevent animal cruelty.
5. And, of course, become a member of the ASPCA!

Stay tuned this month. Check this blog and our website, www.aspca.org, for updates on events and dates for live, online discussions with ASPCA experts on our Online Community.

Reach Out and Nominate Someone

Time to make your nominations for the 2008 ASPCA Humane Awards! Why not give a shout-out to an extraordinary animal or animal lover in your life, someone who has furthered animal welfare in the United States over the past year. Winners will be invited to attend the Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City. The deadline for entries is July 15, 2008, at 12:00 PM (EST). Here are the categories for which Humane Awards will be given. Click these links to bring you to the appropriate nomination form.



ASPCA Dog of the Year
For the dog who has performed a heroic act in the past year.

ASPCA Cat of the Year
For the cat who has performed a heroic act in the past year.

ASPCA Kid of the Year
For someone 14 years of age or younger who has performed a heroic act in the past year.

ASPCA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
For the member of a municipal police force—or other public service officer—who made a heroic effort to save an animal in the past year.

ASPCA Firefighter of the Year
For the member of a fire department or rescue squad who has made a heroic effort to save an animal in the past year.

Last year’s winners included a first-aid wunderkind and golden retriever who performed a modified Heimlich maneuver on his choking owner, a petite kitty with a loud voice who saved her family from dying of carbon monoxide poisoning and a selfless pre-teen who works tirelessly on behalf of homeless horses.

P.S. Winners will be chosen by a committee selected by the ASPCA, and announced to the public in mid-October. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org/nominate.

P.P.S. Need another reason to nominate someone? If they win, they might bring ya with them to NYC! ;)