#InternationalHomelessAnimalsDay #IHAD 28th Annual Commemoration

"ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day Set to Shed Light on Pet Overpopulation Epidemic and the Spay/Neuter and Adoption Solution"

On IHAD animal advocates across the globe organize local events that create a positive impact on the lives of animals in their community including adoption events, dog walks, candlelight vigils, spay/neuter and microchip clinics, blessings of the animals, open houses, information stalls, and much more to raise awareness of pet overpopulation and its simple solution: spay/neuter and pet adoption.

About International Homeless Animals’ Day

Over a decade ago, ISAR realized the need to bring widespread public attention to the overwhelming crisis of pet overpopulation, and in 1992 created and sponsored International Homeless Animals’ Day, a day that has come to symbolize hope for homeless and unwanted companion animals.  Since its inception, ISAR’s International Homeless Animals’ Day has continued to grow and gain momentum in the war against dog and cat overpopulation. To date, International Homeless Animals’ Day observances have been held in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, in over 50 countries, on 6 continents.

Taken from the ISR Facebook page

Always observed on the third Saturday in August, IHAD sheds light on the tragedy of pet overpopulation and the urgent need for affordable spay/neuter programs to help save the lives of animals by educating the public on the importance of spaying and neutering their pets and adopting their next pet from a shelter.

 Please support the animals in your local community by attending an IHAD event - United States: http://bit.ly/2GUcJk4US International:http://bit.ly/2ZOQWlsINT If you can't attend an event or if there's no event in your area, we encourage you to visit your local animal shelter to volunteer your services, donate food, or shelter wish list items.

If you are in Michigan, check out our side bar on our blog were we ALWAYS feature animals who need homes!! 

**All of the above information (except for our graphic) was shared WITH PERMISSION from an associate at ISAR (International Society for Animal Rights)

Prepare NOW for Remember Me Thursday®

Causes to help promote the importance of adopting animals who are in shelters and for those with NOWHERE to go are in the limelight today, (we feel they should be EVERY DAY, but that's another matter altogether). Today is International Homeless Animals Day and Clear the Shelters Day.  While Cody WAS adopted, he was luckier than many other cats. He had an incredible foster Mother who loved and nurtured him, and helped influence the loving cuddle bug that he is today. Millions of other animals aren't as lucky as Cody was. Many are waiting in shelters for days, months, years and even their entire lives, to find their forever homes, and MANY NEVER DO.  While focusing on homeless animals today, it is also a good time to remind everyone that Remember Me Thursday® is right around  the corner! It's time to start preparing!! 

Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign that was created by the Helen Woodward Animal Center,  that unites individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world !!! The combined influence creates  an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes and to  not die waiting for them.

On September 28, 2017, the entire world will share the importance of pet adoption and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2016, people using #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 340 million people on social media.

It has been important to me for the past few years to participate in this special event, and I was honored when myself and a number of other bloggers were contacted asking if we would help spread the word again this year! (Whether I had been asked to or not, I ALWAYS participate in this important cause, so it is a no-brainer!!) 

In order to help us spread the word

 we were sent a box full of goodies which you can see below!!

We received the  items pictured above in exchange for agreeing to help spread the word about Remember Me Thursday. We  were not compensated monetarily for this post It is our pleasure to  only share information that we feel will be of interest to our readers.

This year there are some NEW PRIZES in the #RememberTheRescue photo contest which will run from September 1 through September 30th, (More about the prizes later!!!) For now:

There are 3 ways to enter:

• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Instagram with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Twitter with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Upload a photo of your rescue pet directly to the contest website.

Join us on September 28th 2017!!!

Help get the entire world talking about pet adoption!

 Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the lost pets who ran out of time and bring awareness to the pets we can still help by working together and using our voices.

"Let’s take social media by storm for orphan pets!"

sign up here for reminders!

International Homeless Animals Day #IHAD

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Portions of this post originally appeared in 2015, I have done some editing, but maintained the original link. That is why comments from last year are currently showing! This cause is near and dear to my heart because when I adopted my Angel Bobo, I had found him as a stray wandering the streets. I had searched two weeks for his original owner, after the two weeks, I kept him and he shared my life for 18 years.

FROM ISAR ONLINE:

On Saturday, August 20, 2016, ISAR will join forces with humane societies, animal protection organizations, animal-friendly businesses and concerned individuals to shed light on dog and cat overpopulation and the importance of spay/neuter. 

Since 1992, ISAR has reserved the third Saturday of August as a platform for thousands of dedicated, humane-minded people to come together in solidarity to enlighten communities about a tragedy that affects all communities: cat and dog overpopulation and its simple solution: spay/neuter. IHAD is often marked with candlelight vigils, blessing of the animals ceremonies, spay/neuter clinics, adopt-a-thons, animal shelter open houses, microchip clinics, marches, speeches given by veterinarians, humane officers, and shelter personnel, and much more.

Please join us on International Homeless Animals’ Day! There is never a better time than the present to create positive change for unwanted animals.

"Stuff" on Sunday

Well, Mom dropped the ball again. She didn't find out until late yesterday when she was reading a number of blogs that she follows,  that yesterday was:

BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY
We hope that all of the horrible myths about Black Cats will vanish, once and for all!

For those that may not know, it was also International Homeless Animals Day and Mom DID help Dakota blog about that.

Mom and I just wanted to let you know that if we aren't around much for the next two weeks or so, we aren't being rude, there is just stuff going on.

Last October when Mom leased her new car, she misjudged how far she had to reach from inside the car while closing the door, and did something to her arm. It took her until APRIL to tell the doctor and at that time the doctor thought all was ok. Well, we aren't sure. Mom has A LOT of pain that travels to her shoulder. She can barely put a jacket on and some other things that are unmentionables, because of the pain.( If you are in the immediate vicinity of Mom, watch out, we don't want any "swinging objects" hitting you in the face MOL!) The pain comes and goes and when it is bad, it's BAD! Mom went back to the doctor the week before last and the doctor said Mom has a "frozen shoulder." (Which is not a surprise to Dad, he says Mom has been giving him the "cold shoulder" for quite some time now, but I digress). The doctor is sending Mom for  X-Rays on Monday and then she will be starting therapy next week (2 or 3 times a week for a month). Hopefully that will solve the problem, if not, Mom has to see an Orthopedist and she isn't thrilled!

Also....this week Mom is going to BarkWorld for the first time!

She is excited because it is thanks to Rachael Ray's Nutrish dog food that she gets to go (you can read about it on Dakota's blog on Monday) Not to worry kitties, Mom hasn't gone completely to the "dog side", she is going to be attending some events/sessions for kitties at BarkWorld too! Getting me, Dakota, Dad and two blogs ready for her departure has her pretty busy right now!

Mom is doing her utmost to visit everyone and catch up on emails, but in the event she isn't around as much as usual, she is doing her best!

In the meantime, have an "Easy" Sunday and enjoy this shot of my toesies!

Love, Cody

Free Pet Fitness Evaluations August 18th, International Homeless Animals' Day® 2012-As Part of 200-Cat Adoption Event August 17 thru August 19th At Bloomfield Pet Supplies Plus

Veterinarian Jonathan Ross of Ross Hospital for Animals in Bloomfield Hills says that obesity has become one of the top killers of dogs and cats, and he wants to do something about it.  Dr. Ross will provide free pet fitness evaluations at the Bloomfield Hills Pet Supplies Plus Pet Fitness Fair on August 18 being held in conjunction with the store’s 200-cat adoption event August 17-19.

According to Dr. Ross, overweight cats and dogs suffer from the same serious health conditions as overweight humans, including heart, kidney and thyroid disease; diabetes; hip dysplasia and arthritis.  While all of these conditions can be managed in the short-term, they significantly reduce a pet’s life span.  For example, a medium -size dog that is 20 pounds overweight can have its life span cut by one-third. 

"Boo" must lose weight
Before she can be adopted
Photo Courtesy of Pet Supplies Plus

      

“People think that they’re making their pet happy when they over feed them or give them too many treats,” Dr. Ross says.  “They are actually harming them.  We are seeing young dogs having difficulty walking and cats under age 5 with diabetes.  Pet obesity is a huge pet health problem.”  

Dr. Ross will conduct fitness evaluations of dogs and cats that include a body mass and weight assessment, and provide tips on early disease prevention and

nutrition information.   Vaccines and feline leukemia and heartworm tests will be

provided by VIP Pet Care.                              

The Pet Fitness Fair will also reach out to humans who want to get in shape with free computerized health screenings and healthy cooking demonstrations courtesy of Better Health Market of Bloomfield Hills.

Saturday is also:

 International Homeless Animals' Day® 2012

So please consider coming out and ADOPTING

A KITTY THAT NEEDS A HOME!

August 17-19, a 200-cat adoption event will feature all different cat breeds, colors and personalities from Oakland Pet Adoption Center in Auburn Hills and Roscommon Animal Shelter in Roscommon, Michigan, all looking for good homes.  Adoption fee of $59 includes spay/neuter, vaccines and tests.  Adopted cats and kittens get a free wellness exam courtesy of Ross Hospital for Animals.  The 100th cat adopter gets a $100 Pet Supplies Plus shopping spree and the 200th adopter gets a $500 Pet Supplies Plus shopping spree. 

 “At each adoption event, we are reminded how unique and special cats are,” said Addy Shattuck, owner of the Bloomfield Hills Pet Supplies Plus store, who has adopted out more than 5,000 cats from her stores.  “Unfortunately the shelters are overcrowded, so we are trying to do our part to find more of them homes.  We are excited that we will be working with both Oakland Pet Adoption Center and Roscommon Animal Shelter in this event.”

Roscommon Animal Shelter, in Roscommon County, Michigan, recently completed an extensive shelter renovation and has implemented an aggressive low-cost spay and neuter program.  Shelter director Terry MacKillop says the shelter will transport pets anywhere in Michigan if there is the potential for them to get adopted.   “If it means that an animal will find a new home, we will go to any means to get them placed,” he said.

The 200-cat adoption event hours are from 4 p.m. To 8 p.m., Friday, August 17; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, August 18 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 19.  The Pet Fitness Fair will run from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, August 18.

The event is being co-sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus and Better Health Market.

The Bloomfield Hills Pet Supplies Plus is at 2057 S. Telegraph, north of Square Lake Rd.  For information, call 248-333-7545 or go to www.petsuppliesplus.com.    

Tips for keeping Fluffy & Fido fit

To help keep you your cat or dog in shape, Dr. Ross offers these tips:

•  Resist overfeeding.  Do not leave bowls of food out all day. Instead designate regular mealtimes with portion control.  Keep treats to a minimum.
• Feed cats and dogs high quality pet foods that are low in carbohydrates.
• Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and playtime. 
• For weight loss, follow a gradual plan, ideally under a veterinarian's care.  Rapid weight loss can cause fatty liver disease in cats.