This One's For You, Mamas

How did my cat know to curl up on my head this morning and purr? This isn't something he does often; he reserves the treat for special occasions. Surely cats are too sophisticated to heed a commercial holiday like Mother's Day? (A dog would be first on line to buy a card at Hallmark if he could.)

Our animals show us enduring, impassioned love, but this love is not unconditional. They love us because we love them. And so, ladies...

-For anyone who's referred to her pets as "the kids"
-For anyone who's put a raincoat on her dog to protect him on a walk
-For anyone who's taken a sick day at work to bring a pet to the vet
-For anyone who's frantically searched the house for the cat, finally found him in the closet, and scolded "Don't scare me like that ever again."
-For anyone who's included the dog in her holiday cards
-For anyone who's nervously and frequently checked in with the house sitter while on vacation to make sure the pets are still breathing
-For anyone whose tears have been licked by her pet
-For anyone who has stayed up all night with a sick animal
-For anyone who's life was incomplete until she found her furry soul mate

You are a mother, and today is for you, too, so go out and celebrate.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Because Moms Love Cute Wittle Animals

Happy May! You know what May means--Mother's Day! (Even if you try to forget, TV won't let you. And if you keep your TV shut, your mom won't let you forget either.) After all, even the most selfless moms want to be recognized one day a year—and now thankful husbands, kiddies and other family members can choose a gift she’ll really love. Check out the jewelry, books and other items selected especially for Mother’s Day in our Online Store. Not only will giving a gift from the ASPCA help us in our mission to save animals, but Mom will look great spreading the message in one of our ladies’ fitted tees!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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! ;)

ASPCA Day Wake-Up Call For New Yorkers!

Hey New Yorkers, how early are you willing to wake up to help animals? On ASPCA Day, April 10 (next Thursday!!) we're looking for volunteers to attend The Today Show wearing orange and holding posters! If you need orange gear to wear, get it here.

-The Today Show (NBC) is on the corner of 49th St. and Fifth Ave

The meeting time will be 6:00 AM...ouch, we know, but it's for a good cause. Thanks so much--hope to see you there!

Teens: Chat With Award-Winning Author Tomorrow!

Why do animals go extinct?

What can people do to help keep endangered species alive?

If so many species have died off, why did you, as an author, choose these specific animals to write about?

J. Patrick Lewis, award-winning author of nearly 40 books for kids, has written poems about the history and beauty of 22 extinct animals in Swan Song, featured this month on the ASPCA’s Henry’s Book Club. Lewis, who has been writing for kids for over 20 years, will chat with teen readers about extinct animals and what it’s like to be an author. Please join us in the ASPCA Online Community tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26, 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. EST.

Last Chance to Win an ASPCA Day Kit!

Ready to go orange on April 10? To get the party started, we're giving away 100 free ASPCA Day Kits, complete with a T-shirt, bandana and wrist bands to share with friends and fellow animal lovers.

You may remember our first announcement in Feb. about this...where does the time go? The contest closes on March 27—that's Thursday—so enter right now. Pronto, before you forget!

Happy Easter From the ASPCA!

Happy Easter! Why should the kids have all the fun today? Get your animals in on the action! How 'bout buying those plastic eggs that you can fill? You can put doggie treats or catnip inside and have your pets join the Easter egg hunt! Don't forget to take pictures--and send them to us via the comments section of our official MySpace page.

Remember--use Certified Humane eggs, and please stick to chocolate bunnies instead of buying a real one. (If you really would like a rabbit in the family, do your research and adopt one after Easter!) OK, nagging done, have fun. :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day From the ASPCA!

Do your pets get to be part of the festivities tonight? Just don't give them any beer, please! :)



Drop us a comment and let us know what you did to include your four-legged friends in your celebration. Have a fun evening, and be safe!!

Adopt-A-Bull Contest

Nobody loves a story about someone finding their perfect four-legged match as much as we do—except maybe you. Now, we’re putting out a call for adoption success stories featuring pit bulls. What better way to get the word out that pit bulls can indeed make loving and loyal, delightful and devoted companions?

We've launched the Adopt-A-Bull Contest (pretty clever, if we do say so ourselves), sponsored by the New York-based Animal Farm Foundation, Inc, a group dedicated to protecting American pit bull terriers from discrimination and cruelty. We're accepting nominations of successful adoptions of pit bulls made at shelters using the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match™ program. MYM focuses on the individual dog and adopter—making matches based on an individual dog’s behavior and the lifestyle and expectations of the adopter.

The contest will run four times throughout the year, with one winner announced each quarter. The winning shelters will be awarded a $4,000 grant, and the dog-and-pet parent matches from each winning shelter will score a prize pack and automatically be entered into the “Vote for Your Favorite Match” contest, which will take place here, online at ASPCA.org., in February 2009. Yep, we’ll be asking you to cast their vote for your favorite couple, so stay tuned!

The grand-prize shelter winner will be treated to a trip to New York City to participate in the third annual ASPCA Day celebration (that’s April 10, 2009) and a $5,000 grant, and 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 if, over the course of the contest, any of our winning dog-human duos get you thinking that a pit bull might make a perfect match for your family, please visit ASPCA.org for more information…that’s the point of our contest, after all!

Meet Your Match Shelters: Enter the Contest!

Recent Pit Bull/Pit Bull Mix Adopters: Enter the Contest!

Now, since we figure we're entitled to one bad pun per blog post, we'll sign off saying this: If you don't enter this contest and you're eligible, that'll really be the pits.

Countdown: One Month 'Til ASPCA Day!

ASPCA Day is just a month away! Check out our new video to see what's in store when you attend our festivities on April 10 at New York City's Union Square.

Live Chat With ASPCA Lawyer-Lobby Expert!

I always hear the term “Breed Specific Legislation,” or BSL. What does that mean?

How can I help pass humane legislation in my state?

What’s the best way to get my legislator’s attention about a humane issue?

The number-one question we get here at the ASPCA is: How can I help? (This also happens to be our favorite question!) Lobbying for laws that protect animals is a great way to get involved. Wanna find out more about humane laws and how the legislative process works? Just ask the ASPCA’s Ledy VanKavage, Esq., Senior Director of Legislation and Legal Training.

VanKavage will be on hand to answer your questions live Friday, March 7 from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST in our ASPCA Online Community. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the humane movement! For more information, please visit the Lobby For Animals section on our website.

Goin' For the Gold: ASPCA Talent Show

Last Friday, we celebrated I Love NYC Pets Month by giving shelter dogs a chance to take the stage. At the ASPCA’s third annual “Best in Show” competition, ten adoptable dogs displayed their talents to our panel of celebrity judges, including Emmy award-winning Third Rock from the Sun actress Kristen Johnston; legendary actress and singer Maureen McGovern; HOT 97 DJ Angie Martinez; Lonneke Engel, the face of Ralph Lauren’s HOT perfume, and the ASPCA’s Supervisory Special Investigator, Officer Annemarie Lucas.

The feisty contestants─scored on overall presentation, attentiveness to their handlers and creativity of their tricks─really hammed it up for our judges. Honda, a seven-year-old Rottweiler, put all of his toys away. Yankee, an eight-year-old pit bull mix, played "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on a toy piano to score second place, and one-year-old pit mix Charlie’s kiss-giving expertise earned him third prize. But it was Jazz, a three-year-old mastiff mix, who took top honors when, wearing her special fire-fighting T-shirt, she demonstrated the three rules of fire safety: Stop, Drop and Roll.

All the dogs were rewarded with treats, resounding applause and television coverage, and the following weekend, Jazz really did get first prize─she was adopted! That was the point of the contest after all, to show potential adopters just how snuggly, smart and loveable our shelter dogs are.

“I have never met anyone who’s had a bad experience with a rescue dog,” Kristen Johnston told CBS while scratching her very own ASPCA rescue, Pinky, under the ears. The seven-year-old pit bull mix watched all the action as she basked in her adoptive mom’s adoring touch.

Here we have a video of the talent show, for your viewing pleasure!

Live Chat with Animal Precinct Cop

She’s got sass and she’s got spunk. You might recall our September chat with Special Investigator Diane DiGiacomo, where she dished the dirt about what life is like on the force. This time she’s back to spill behind-the-scenes-secrets from the filming of Animal Precinct, Animal Planet’s hit reality showfeaturing the ASPCA’s animal cops on the job.

To talk to DiGiacomo live, please join the discussion on the ASPCA Online Community TODAY Feb. 22, from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST.

For Parents, Teachers and Kids (Oh MY!)

To kick off Henry's Book Club, (see yesterday's blog entry), we’re holding a live chat with author Ann M. Martin The chat will take place this Thursday at 4:00 P.M. EST. Click here to join! Martin will be discussing her book: A Dog's Life: The Autobiography Of A Stray. Squirrel, a dog now in the comfort of a loving home, tells the story of her ten years on the streets after getting separated from her mom and brother.

So parents, tell your kids, and teachers, why not have your whole classroom join our chat with Martin as an extra-credit assignment? Hope to see you there!

*Kids 13 and up can sign up for the chat on their own. If you're 12 and under, please have an adult join you!

A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography Of a Stray

"Little Black Dress" Contest--Benefit for Animals and Egos!

Who: Shapes Total Fitness and Blue Martini present “Little Black Dress” to benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

What: The “Little Black Dress” contest is for all females in Tampa Bay over 21, and prizes will be awarded to women in several age categories. Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 in advance, with a $25 registration fee. All proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay!

Where: Blue Martini at International Plaza

When: Semifinals- Monday, February 11th, 6-9pm
Finals- Wednesday, February 13th, 6-9pm (Top 5 from each age category make the finals)

Why: Because your contributions will go toward homeless animals and because you’ll get to celebrate your fabulous shape in man’s most fabulous (and flattering!) invention—the little black dress.

Live Chat with Expert Psychologist--Today!!

Help, my boyfriend asked me to choose between him—and my cat!

Will I ever be able to cope with the loss of my best friend—my dog?

Is there a way to get my new husband to warm up to my pets?

The ASPCA's Dr. Stephanie LaFarge is a psychologist who specializes in human/animal relationships and the human/animal bond. You may have seen her regular Q&A column on our website. Today, February 8, the good doctor will be in to host a live chat on our ASPCA Online Community. Please join us from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST to gain some expert insight and advice for strengthening your relationships with the four-legged members of the family.

Show Us the Love!

Remember the first time you fell in love? You gazed into each other’s eyes, and all you could hear was the thump, thump, thump of… his wagging tail?

You know how we love to celebrate the human-animal bond at the ASPCA, and this February, we’re thrilled to announce our My Furry Valentine Photo Contest in honor of your first puppy (and kitty) loves. We wanna see your best shot of your best bud—maybe it was your childhood pooch, or the first four-legged member of your current family. You know, that special furry someone who opened up your heart and helped you earn a lifetime membership as a doting pet parent.

The top ten winners will receive an ASPCA Prize Pack, and winning photos will also be featured on the ASPCA website and in ASPCA Action. Please visit ASPCA.org for complete details and contest rules. Entries will be accepted now through February 29—we can’t wait to see what you’ve got for us!

Make 'Em All Say AWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Bypass the candy and flowers this Valentine’s Day—how cliché, right? A professional portrait of you and your real true love—your pet—is the ultimate gift.

For a $75 donation to the ASPCA, you will get a 30-minute professional photo shoot at the ASPCA’s 424 East 92nd Street headquarters with photographer Geoffrey Tischman. You’ll also receive a 5 X 7 portrait from the shoot, and when you order additional Valentine’s Day cards and custom prints, 50 percent of those funds will benefit the homeless animals at the ASPCA.

Tischman will be available on Friday, February 1, and Saturday, February 2, from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. As space is limited and RSVPs are required, please call (212) 876-7700, ext. 4586 to reserve your spot.

P.S. All pets are welcome—the furry, the feathered and the scaly!

United With Love

Happy Martin Luther King Day! If Dr. King were here today, he would surely remind you of his dream that animals should not be judged by the color of their fur, but by the content of their character.

Reminder: Live Expert Chat Today--Animal Assisted Therapy

How do I know if my pet qualifies to be a therapy animal?

How do I get my pet started in animal assisted therapy?

Where are therapy animals needed?

Think a cuddle from your dog could light up an elderly person’s face? Maybe your cat’s company will help a child concentrate better on his reading. Whether you’re interested in getting your pet started with animal assisted therapy, or would just like to learn more about it, now’s your chance to talk to the ASPCA’s Manager of Animal Assisted Therapy, Greer Griffith. She will be joining us for a live chat today, January 11, from noon to 2:00 P.M. Be sure to log into the ASPCA Online Community to participate.

*Click here to read up on the ASPCA’s affiliation with the Delta Society, a national organization that aims to improve human health through the assistance of service and therapy animals, and to get information on the animal assisted therapy classes we offer you and your dog.

Because What's More Therapeutic Than Doggies and Kitties?

How do I know if my pet qualifies to be a therapy animal?

How do I get my pet started in animal assisted therapy?

Where are therapy animals needed?

Think a cuddle from your dog could light up an elderly person’s face? Maybe your cat’s company will help a child concentrate better on his reading. Whether you’re interested in getting your pet started with animal assisted therapy, or would just like to learn more about it, now’s your chance to talk to the ASPCA’s Manager of Animal Assisted Therapy, Greer Griffith. She will be joining us for a live chat next Friday, January 11, from noon to 2:00 P.M. Be sure to log into the ASPCA Online Community to participate.

*Click here to read up on the ASPCA’s affiliation with the Delta Society, a national organization that aims to improve human health through the assistance of service and therapy animals, and to get information on the animal assisted therapy classes we offer you and your dog.

Happy New Year!

If your pets are having trouble coming up with some New Year’s
Resolutions, you can gently suggest some of these! At best, you’ll provide your furry ones with some comic relief.

Dogs:
• I resolve to lick my privates in…well, private.
• I resolve to show compassion toward my feline counterparts.
• I resolve to stay away from designer shoes and stick to department store brands (after all, these are supposed to be realistic).
• I resolve to refuse the broccoli little Johnny sneaks under the table at dinner—the boy needs it more than I do.
• I resolve to wait patiently and quietly when it’s time for a walk.
• I resolve to chase someone else’s tail for a change.
• I DO NOT resolve to avoid slobbering kisses all over you. There are some things you’ll just have to deal with because I love you.

Cats:
• I resolve to confine all claw action to the scratching post you lovingly bought me.
• I resolve to quit the “I’m starving” theatrics when you have friends over. I know I’m perfectly well fed.
• I resolve to tolerate my canine counterparts. “Tolerate,” not to be confused with “welcome.”
• I resolve to make myself useful. Maybe this year I’ll get off the couch and finally get that mouse!
• I resolve to respect your plants and picture frames.
• I resolve to allow your real alarm clock to go off instead of taking it upon myself to be your alarm.
• I DO NOT resolve to keep my ever shedding hair off your bed. I love you and you’ll have to deal with my wanting to be near you all night.

Here’s to a warm and fuzzy 2008 for you and your family members—the furry and the non!

Don't Forget...

The whole family needs some kissin' at midnight tonight!

Merry Christmas!

What greater gift can you have today than to wake up to the sight of your dog in happy slumber under the tree, or your cat mischieveously rummaging through the packages!

How do you include your pets in your holiday celebration? Do they have their own stockings? Are there gifts waiting for them under the tree? Will you allow them to steal pet-friendly scraps of your holiday meal and pretend not to notice?

We'd love to hear from you! Just post a comment and tell us all about your holiday with your furry familly members.

Calling Those With Cash to This Big Bash

When do fine dining and animals go together? New Year’s Eve! Presented by Esquire magazine, Cipriani’s official New Year’s Eve party at 55 Wall Street means getting dressed up to the nines, eating a fabulous meal, unlimited champagne…and oh yes, saving animals! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the ASPCA.

All packages include:

-Premium Open Bar 9:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M.
-Champagne toast at midnight
-Cocktail style seating and VIP table service
-Live broadcast of Times Square Ball Drop
-Celebratory party favors

Check out the event’s website to buy tickets or…marvel. And hey, don’t be surprised if instead of a midnight kiss this year, you get a midnight lick. From your grateful pet, of course.

Forensics First

Good news! We’re ready to tell you what we were so hush-hush about yesterday. On NBC’s “Today” show this morning we unveiled to the nation the first-ever “Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit.”

In other words, the ASPCA now has its own CSI truck! This is a specially designed vehicle outfitted with state-of-the-art forensics tools as well as medical equipment tailored to animal patients and the victims of crimes. This is a big step for man, and an even bigger step for animal-kind!

The truck will operate under the leadership of the nation’s premier forensic veterinarian, the ASPCA’s Dr. Melinda Merck, who, as you may know, is the nation’s only “animal CSI,” and who most recently assisted Federal authorities in the Michael Vick investigation. The mobile unit, which will be available to assist at crime scenes nationally, will allow Dr. Merck to examine and care for animals found at suspected crime scenes, and includes a surgical suite for animals in need of urgent care.
Talk about taking the prosecution of animal cruelty into the new millennium!

**Click here to take the pledge to fight animal cruelty.

Shhh! We’ve Got a Secret!

Wanna know what it is? Well, you’ll just have to tune in to the Today Show on NBC tomorrow, December 11, when we’ll be revealing a groundbreaking initiative that will take the fight against animal cruelty to the next level. Please watch and support us tomorrow as we announce this major first for the ASPCA—and for animals everywhere.

Our segment will air at approximately 8:30 AM, but to be safe, it’s best to start watching a bit earlier!

Parents--Talk to Humane Education Expert TODAY at Noon!!

How do children learn to care about animals?

Does having a pet help my children socialize more easily?

How much help should I really expect from my kids in taking care of our pets?

This one goes out to the mamas and papas—and anyone else interested in educating children about being kind and respectful to animals! Please join Joanne Pentangelo, ASPCA Humane Education Specialist, for a live chat today, December 7, in the ASPCA Online Community. She’ll be there from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST to answer all your questions on children and humane education.

If you’d like to speak with Joanne, but aren’t sure what to ask, check out our Humane Education website. You’ll find excellent resources from books to parent newsletters and volunteer opportunities for kids.

Yes, by the way. That is a pig in the photo.

Live Chat with Animal Precinct Rehabilitator--TODAY!!

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Victoria Wells a miracle worker. As the ASPCA’s Manager of Shelter Behavior and Training, Wells works daily to rehabilitate animals rescued from abuse by our Humane Law Enforcement officers. If you watch Animal Precinct, you’ve probably seen her in action.

Today, you’ll have a chance to pick Wells’ brain in our ASPCA Online Community, where she’ll host a live chat. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the animals after the police work is done, don’t miss this opportunity to find out! The discussion will take place today, Friday, November 30, from noon to 2:00 P.M. EST.

For inspiration on what to ask, check out the transcript of our recent chat with HLE Special Investigator Diane DiGiacomo.