Saturday, November 15, 2008

Home 4 the Holidays




We're a little late posting about the Iams 2008 Home 4 the Holidays shelter adoption program, (big surprise, right!) but you know how close to our hearts this subject hits. Rusty and Merci came from the same shelter where Jan takes photos of shelter animals for newspaper exposure.

Unfortunately, more of these animals are euthanized than adopted. There are just not enough homes for all of the animals that, one way or another, end up at the shelter.

Everyone has a different way of posting the same story. There are facts, videos and photos available, so we would like to make our post a bit more personal.

This is one of several photos taken July 19, 2003 by another member of the Humane Society, who suggested this would be a good dog for Jan to adopt. She was right. Merci was a very good choice!


This is Merci today.


Jan saw this photo of Rusty in the paper and when she read he was declawed, she knew he would be a perfect pet to keep her mother company after her dogs died. She passed away less than a year later and Rusty moved in with us.


This is Rusty today. He is a huge ball of fluff with feet nearly as big as a dog's.


This is one of the shelter cats Jan photographed Monday. He is a handsome dude and very sweet. He would probably make a good mouser and lap warmer.


Each week, Jan photographs three dogs and two cats for the newspaper ads. When she went in Monday, she learned there weren't three dogs in the shelter. They had all been euthanized because of Parvo -- except this Border Collie mix.


It's really sad when all the dogs or cats are killed because of something contagious. The longer an animal remains in a shelter, the more likely it is to be exposed to something that could kill it.

So we are pleased that Iams is again partnering with a large number of shelters in Home 4 the Holidays.


2008 shelter program Spokesperson Felicity Huffman, her shelter dog Tucker and an unidentified cat.

Starting with only 14 partner shelters in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays has grown to nearly 3,000 partner shelters in 15 countries around the world, and has helped place more than 2 million pets into homes.

The goal this year is to place at least 1 million pets in loving and happy homes over this holiday season -- Oct. 1, 2008 through Jan. 5, 2009. Every cat, dog, puppy or kitten that is adopted during Iams Home 4 the Holidays will go home with an Iams Adoption Starter Kit that contains food samples, coupons and important tips and information about pet care, behavior, training and nutrition.

We hope they reach their goal!

JFF: Crystal, Cotton, Merci, Cyndi, Percy, Cameron, Buddy, Rusty & Sam --- and Jan

PS -- Alasandra made a good point in the comment she left. It is important the animals be adopted from shelters. But we also need to consider those who need help to keep the ones they have. Times are tough for a lot of folks who would never have thought of giving up their pets to a shelter.

21 comments:

  1. How different Merci and Rusty look today. It is so sad that any of the animals have to euthanised, but Iams are doing a great job with their help.

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  2. Mommy volunteered for years and years as an adoption counselor, vet tech, dog walker, tv cat-showing person, photographer for the website, well...you get the idea - at a shelter in Kansas City called Wayside Waifs. She loved it and hated it at the same time. When the Parvo outbreaks happened, well...it's one of the reasons she says she is on a "break" from shelter life now that we moved to O Hi O. Someday soon she will start again, we are telling her that she needs to get involved because not helping seems to be more painful than going thru the rough stuff at a shelter.
    We were contacted by the same folks that you were to do a post and we will. At first Mommy was going to say no cause she has issues with Iams, but she has read that they have made great strides is their treatment of their "food testing" animals.
    Sorry this is so long, but I think something touched a nerve in Mommy tonight.
    Maybe I need to go and snuggle with her!
    Smooches!

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  3. Our eyes are leaking. We are so glad Jan rescued you Merci and Rusty.

    The Border Collie reminded Mommy of her Border Collie, Sir Lass, she loved him very much and misses him. She says he was a pawsome dog.

    We are purring that lots of doggies and kitties will find homes this holiday season. And we are purring that those who need help to keep their pets will get it. ~S,S & C

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  4. I hope that people will think of the animals in the shelters instead of purchasing a cute puppy or kitty to sit under the cristmas tree. It is good to raise awareness!
    Purrs, Siena

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  5. We are all rescues and we are so thankful for that.

    Come to our blog we gave you an award.

    Mindy , Moe, Bono

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  6. GREAT POST! and thanks for sharing the personal side of how a couple of your funny farm came to be!!!

    i LOVE rescue

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  7. Awww, Merci and Rusty are adorable. Thanks for your important message and post.

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  8. We don't understand why animals at the shelters here in the states don't have the good outcome as the Italian shelters. They do not put any animal down, they are all found homes and taken care of. Oh why cannot we over here be like that. We just shake our head and wonder.
    I am so happy that Jan found part of her gang at work, I wish she could bring all to her home but we know that could not be possible, she can only let us know about the ones needing homes and helping them to find one. Thanks Jan!!

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  9. This is a wonderful post! Our island shelter, which we support, is a "no kill" shelter, meaning they make it their mission to find a home for every animal that comes through their door. We wish more shelters were like this.

    We thank Jan for all her efforts too! And for adopting Merci and Rusty who both look so great today!

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  10. I do hope all the homewess kitties and woofies and evewyone gets a wonderful furrever home!
    And thank you guys, for coming to mine party and making mine purrthday such a gweat one!

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  11. Oh Jan,
    We all started to gets leaky eyezballzez when we read your postee. It iz so true abouts da shelter anymalz. My brudder waz almostee "youth-a-nized" before he gotted to come home wit da momeee 7 yearz ago. He waz so deep-pressed dat da momee thought he would nevfur recover. But now he iz OK, exceptee he still haz some emoshinul damage frum bein' abuzed by his first owner. Sometimez, some of us comez wit some baggagez, dat our new beanz must be pree-paired fur.
    Da momee haz thoguth about bein' a volunteer shelter pic taker, but waz afraid she would only wants to come home wit more cats. How do you not do dat?
    Tank you fur postin' dis important post.
    Love,
    Dr Tweety

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  12. Yes why buy when we can adopt to save a life?? :)

    Hiyii there, just wanna thank you for your visit and your blessings. Chubbs is now in a better place and we would like to thank you for your words of comfort. :)

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  13. Awww, Merci and Rusty are preshus. Rusty looks like my big bruther Brainball! And it's such a wunnerful thing to adopt a kitty or a woofie at a sheltur and safe a preshus life.

    Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao.

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  14. Shadow went all goofy when he saw that new picture of Merci. Running all around with a silly smile on his face. We think it is very cool how you take pictures of shelter animals and help them find forever homes.

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  15. I too wish we could find all the animals new homes here in the states. Sassy and Opus say in Italy the can do that. I was wondering if the people there make sure their animals have been spayed and neutered. There are so many people here in the states that really don't give a darn. I know of a lady that is poor and she tries to get cats neutered when she is able too. Sometimes there is a mobile clinic that will go in the county side and do them free. Jan thank you for all you are doing. Also sorry you miss your AZ sunsets. Don't you have any where you are now?? Great pictures of Merci and Rusty. I would love to get a small dog but I am over my animal limit where I live now. God Bless you Jan.

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  16. It is so sad that they had to euthanize all of the dogs. Merci and Rusty are very lucky to have such a great, loving home. Rescue is the way to go!

    Hugs, Kodak

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  17. My mom admires anyone who has it in them to volunteer at a shelter..such heartbreaking stories, and she'd want to bring EVERYONE home with her. I hope and purray that every animal finds a good FOREVER home for the holidays!

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  18. YAY for adopted shelter animals that stay at a furever home!!

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  19. Way to go for IAMS. We sure hope lots of shelter animals find a home 4 the holidays. And way to go for Jan for the great work she does for the shelters.

    xo
    Chef

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  20. This is a great post Jan. We hope that everyone who wants a pet will adopt one from a shelter AND get it spayed or neutered. If only there was a world wide spay/neuter policy, the terrible end for so many unwanted animals would be avoided. Merci and Rusty look wonderful now. We are seeing the results of people with pets finding it hard to keep them (and keep them well) in the UK. Shelters are totally over run.

    Whicky Wuudler

    PS: Psst! Merci! I have kittens for you, yes, kittens, three of them for you to love on.

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