National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

As we celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we want to recognize the many ways you can give back to shelters in your area. These amazing organizations make a difference in the lives of countless animals every day. Even if you don’t have the resources to rescue a pet of your own, you can still make a contribution to these worthy causes. The Humane Society offers a list of ways for you to give back this week, or any time you’re looking to make a difference in an animal’s life.

The Humane Society suggests making "Adopt Me" vests.

Get to know your local shelters and rescue groups. Get started by learning what groups are in your area. You may be surprised at just how many shelters and rescues are nearby. Websites like The Shelter Pet Project can help you locate and learn about rescues in your neighborhood.

Volunteer or get crafty. Shelters are often operating on limited funds or resources, so anything you can contribute will be welcome. Whether you donate your time at the facility or make donations of food or other supplies, you really can make a difference! Check out your local shelter’s website or call to see if they have a wish list of things they need. You can also create your own donations by making toys out of household materials or even decorating your own “Adopt me” vests. Get creative!

Help out at home. You can help ensure that one more pet doesn’t join the shelter ranks by making sure your own pets are microchipped and have ID tags. Have all your pets spayed or neutered, and always keep your dog on leash when off your own property. 

Say “thanks.” Taking a moment to express your thanks to the volunteers and staff at your local shelter can make all the difference. They work tirelessly to improve the lives of pets, and have earned our appreciation.

Rescue a pet! If you’ve done your research and think you might be ready to add a pet to your family, visit your local shelter to start the adoption process! There are always pets waiting to find their forever homes, and yours could be life changing for one of them.

Thinking of adopting? We are currently helping one-year-old Lucky look for a home! This adorable hound mix is great with kids and dogs and LOVES to play. He is available for adoption through Eleventh Hour Rescue. For more information on Lucky, visit his “Adopt Me” page, here!

Belle's Final Days of Canine Fit Camp at Morris Animal Inn

What a wonderful journey it has been at Morris Animal Inn! It was a commitment I made to be healthy and fit and I did it. Now I need to continue this journey even after my last day of fitness camp.

I have to admit that I was a little sad to leave the program because I had one-on-one counseling, support, new friends, great workouts, met my Valentine named Leo...hmmm... but at the same time, I think I am ready to continue this on my own. Being at Morris Animal Inn gave me a jumpstart to good health. I recommend that if you need to get healthy and fit that you give their doggie fit camp a try. Definitely worth it. If you see me running outside and rolling over, I am doing this purposely so everyone can see my new physique from my front end to my back end. :)

In case this is the first time you are checking in, my name is Belle, I am a fiesty two-year-old Bloodhound who came to Morris Animal Inn from Eleventh Hour Rescue three times a week for a month to get healthy and fit. I was at 124.8lbs but have lost more than 10lbs.

A huge thank you to all who have supported and followed me on my journey. I appreciated it so much. If I get a chance, I will stop in to let you know how I am doing. For now, wish me luck...Yeah!

   

Belle's One Month Anniversary!

It's my one month anniversary. It feels like yesterday when I walked into the Morris Animal Inn lobby feeling like my life was about to change. And it really has in a good way! Working on my fitness has been the best thing to ever happen to me! I've met so many new companions – both human and canine.  Let me tell you all about the busy week I had!


With last week being the ‘Week of Love’ leading up to Valentine’s Day, everyone has been very cheerful. The word around the Group Play Yard was that a certain canine thought I was dog-gone cute! I was super surprised when my buddy, Leo asked me to be his Valentine! I was so happy, I couldn't wait to run and tell my girlfriends! 

By the way, did I tell you that I love snow? Check out this video to see how much fun I had in the snow last week!

My training is going great! You should see how fast I am now on the treadmill! I'm still getting used to the Aqua Center but I'm sure I'll be swimming laps with Beckett in no time. 

I had a really good feeling this week when I stepped on that scale. When my Fit Camp Trainer, Lisa said that my weight was down to 118lbs, I couldn’t help but let out an energized bark! I lost 3lbs in one week! That’s a total of almost 7lbs I have lost since I first came to Morris Animal Inn! I knew I was feeling great but knowing that I was able to lose that much, makes me even more motivated for next week! I've been losing about an inch a week around my belly too; at this rate, I’ll have a beach-ready body in no time!

Are you interested in adopting me?

Contact Eleventh Hour Rescue at (973) 664-0865!

Make a New Friend During October’s Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month

Have you been thinking about adopting a new dog for some time now?  Well this month is your perfect chance to quit speculating and take action!

There are endless benefits for both you and your dog.  Here are just a few to think about when you adopt…

1.      Save a Life

The most obvious, and yet most important thing is that you are saving a life.  A shelter dog is well aware of the commitment you have made to them, and will be forever grateful.  The loyal bond that can be formed between an abandoned dog and their owner is unlike anything else in the world.  Help save one of the millions of dogs looking for a home, and you will both be rewarded for it.

2.      Help a Shelter

Not only will you be saving the life of your new dog, but you are also doing a huge service to the shelter.  By rescuing a dog, you will be freeing up a spot for the shelter to place a new abandoned dog looking for a home.  If they could, shelters would take in every stray dog from the street, but overpopulation is one of the biggest problems they face.  With only very limited resources, shelters depend on people to free up space in order to make room for another unfortunate dog.

3.   Enhance Your Life

Owning a dog can be a life-long rewarding experience.  Above everything else, a dog is going to put a smile on your face.  The happiness that is gained from the love of a dog is something truly unique that cannot be duplicated.  It has been proven that dogs help people feel better when they need an uplift.  They teach children responsibility and give people the ability to love and care for another living thing.  For everyone involved, a certain sense of purpose is gained through the addition of a shelter dog.

Still a little frightened about bringing your new friend home?  These tips are sure to help you out during the first month to make the transition smoother.

***Source: Tips for the First 30 Days of Dog Adoption from Petfinder.com.  http://www.petfinder.com/after-pet-adoption/tips-for-first-30-days-dog.html

We are pleased to have Vin, as a contributing writer for If They Could Talk. Vin is a passionate dog owner. We look forward to sharing his contribution on interesting and educational pet topics.