Disposable Pets

"Unfortunately, we live in a throw-away society and included with the plastic bottles and other trash are unwanted pets.

Across our country, 10-12 million pets are euthanized annually -- that's 27,473 pets every 24 hours.

In all, 70,000 kittens and puppies are born in the U.S. every day. One out of every four healthy and bright-eyed kittens is destroyed daily. In all, 25 percent of all pets in shelters are purebred.

Spaying and neutering makes your pet healthier, gives it a long life and makes it happier. Early age altering has been done in the U.S. for over 25 years. Pets can be safely spayed and neutered at an early age. You may try to justify your pet having litters because you are sure you can find loving homes for the kittens or puppies."

The Family Pet

"Walking into a pet store, I hear the same conversation over and over. "That puppy is so cute! Let's get it!" Yet once that animal grows up, they realize the full responsibility of taking care of that "cute puppy" and some toss their pets aside. Since when have animals become like pieces of furniture, throwing out what we think is old, and replacing it with something more fashionable? What more and more people are failing to comprehend is that when they commit to taking in an animal, they are making a commitment to take care of that life as long as it lives. Many people consider themselves "huge animal lovers," yet they buy their pets from pet stores. It is no secret to anyone that only puppy mills will sell to pet stores."



"On May 12th, 2008, Bernadette Peters hosted a launch party for her first book, "Broadway Barks". A long time advocate for pet adoption, Peters and fellow actress Mary Tyler Moore started the organization Broadway Barks! Each year they hold a star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon, benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. The event is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sponsored by the ASPCA. The book, authored by Peters, with illustrations by Liz Murphy, is published by Blue Apple Books and is the star's first foray into the publishing world. She did it at the prompting of friends and agreed to not only write the book, loosely based on how she adopted her dog Kramer, but also penned an original song, again at the prompting of both friends and her publisher, which comes on a CD inside the book along with her charming reading of the story...sound effects and all! "

Petimony

"An increasing number of couples who split up are fighting over the family pet. Pets are being treated more and more like family members and when couples divorce or separate, the pets become a part of the legal settlements. Many attorneys are drafting “petimony” contracts for couples with pets creating a new focus on animal law issues."



"My first contact with pet rescue centers was when our cat Tom died, and we decided that the next in line for cat-in-chief should be from a shelter, not a pet store. Pet rescue shelters have got increasingly popular in recent years - there is nothing like the feeling of giving a deserving pet a nice new home! Rescue Centers take in animals for later adoption to loving homes. Obviously, local centers have limited room and resources for pets that need rehoming, and far too many wonderful animals get put down as a result."

Critter Fest

MARYVILLE, Tenn. —

The Blount County Humane Society is holding the second annual Smoky Mountain Critter Fest on Sunday June 1, at Pearson Springs Park in Maryville from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will benefit the Blount County Humane Society's No Kill Animal Shelter Effort. A rain date is set for June 8.

Many animal rescue organizations will be present including the Smoky Mountain St. Bernard Rescue, featuring ''Panda'', the dog who was in the news last month in a well-publicized animal abuse situation. Now adopted to a loving home, Panda is the poster dog for animal abuse, rescue, and adoption. Other rescue groups include East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue, Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee, Southeast Bloodhound Rescue and Horse Haven. These organizations, as well as the Blount County Humane Society, will feature adoptable pets in need of forever homes.

Adopt A Ferret

"Many people are now considering ferrets as pets. This animal is the third most popular pet in the United States according to the pet industry, in spite of the fact that it’s illegal to own one in California, one of our most populous states. You may be thinking of getting a ferret yourself. Just don’t make the mistake of assuming that this curious, independent critter is anything like any other pet you’ve ever known."



"When actress and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres became embroiled in an emotional dispute with a dog adoption agency late last year, the drama served to illustrate on emerging fact: pet adoption has become serious business.

As a result, adoption agencies and animal rescues across the nation are increasingly making notarization a requirement in several aspects of their contracts to bring trust and clarity to the process."