Support The ASPCA Rachael Ray 100K Challenge And Enter To Win An ASPCA Giftpack

Have you heard about the ASPCA Rachael Ray 100K Challenge? Now in its fourth year, this annual nationwide challenge asks 50 participating animal shelters to compete with each other but also against themselves. Their challenge is to use the months of June, July, and August to increase their adoption numbers higher than their own numbers from last year during the very same months. The shelter that increases their numbers the most will receive a $100,000 grant from the ASPCA and Rachael Ray.  Other contestants will vie for a chance to bring home some of nearly $500,000 in additional grant prizes.

During last year’s challenge, shelters involved in the ASPCA Rachael Ray 100K Challenge over 56,000 cats and dogs, marking an increase of 14,376 from the previous year. For a full list of participating shelters, visit challenge.aspcapro.org. 

You might have noticed that when the challenge began (June 1^st), many shelters had adoption drives all weekend. Adopting a pet is one of the best ways to helps animals. All of my furry children have been rescues, and I have great admiration for every animal shelter and all of its employees who work every single day helping care for those pets that no one else cares about. If you are on the fence about adopting a pet (or another pet), I’d encourage you to visit your local shelter and talk to the employees. Many times, they can help alleviate your concerns and answer your questions regarding a new, potential pet.

In an effort to support this challenge, Some Puppy To Love is giving away a giftpack courtesy of the ASPCA for your pet.

Animals Asia Seeks To End Cruel Dog Eating Festival

As a dog lover, this is a difficult topic to write about. Often as a writer in this field I am privy to cruelty and neglect stories that I wish I had never heard about. At times, I am torn with reporting the barbaric acts and depressing my readers because I know how deeply I am affected when I hear about them, and I don't want to dampen anyone's day.

BUT... there are times when because of people learning about what is going on in the world, we, together, can promote change and put an end to allowing dogs to suffer any longer.

This is one such time.

10 Most Common Dog Names

When we adopted our black lab two years ago, my husband was really into watching spaghetti Westerns. He had become fascinated with the western Django, which originally was a 1966 film starring Franco Nero. Now, of course, when you mention Django, most people think about Jamie Foxx.

But I just think of my best furry friend who we brought home from North Shore Animal League one brisk November day back in 2010. Although she is a girl, we named her Django.

At the time, most people didn’t even know how to pronounce her name. Just drop the D, I’d say. Strange choice for a beautiful female puppy? Sure, but we’ve never been one for convention.

Yet once Jamie Foxx’s Django took off, there have been quite a few people naming their puppies Django. Who knew?

What Would Be On Your Dog's Dog Shaming List? (Video)

Our dog Django has a thing for olives. I don’t quite know what the thing is… if you give her one, she’ll gladly take it and then throw herself on the floor and roll around on top of it.

I’m not sure if she hates them and is trying to steamroll them to mush or if she absolutely adores them so much that she needs to romp around on them.

So when I saw what Maymo, the lemon beagle, does in this video with pickles, I was immediately drawn to it. Um, Maymo has some other odd behavior, too.

Good Advice

The Utter Nightmare Of Flea Infestation (Sponsored)

Flea preventative is NOT optional. Take it from me.

The warm weather brings about special considerations for our dogs. First and foremost, dogs must be provided with fresh, clean water at all times and never, ever be left behind in a car with no air conditioner. Those are no brainers, and vital to our dog’s health and safety.

On a positive note, warmer weather also affords us with many enjoyable activities with our pups: park excursions, hikes, swims by the lake, etc.… When we spend more time outdoors, so do our dogs.

Since I live in New York City, our outdoor excursions aren’t as woodsy as others. Usually, it’s the yard or the park. Our park is a flat-surfaced one, no high hills or wooded areas, just a clean, grassy surface to run and walk. Our yard is concrete except for a very small space in the back where there is dirt, which measures about a foot long.

Given these circumstances, I was surprised, OK, shocked and horrified, when my daughter called me one night while I was at a concert to tell me she had found little black bugs on our Chihuahua. Grossed out doesn’t even begin to describe it. While I adore my pups, I detest fleas and ticks. We took a trip to the vet the next day and began the hideous process of de-fleaing every surface in our home.

I quickly morphed into some sort of mix between an OCD affected cleaning woman and an itchy hypochondriac. This went on for weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2010. I vacuumed at least 5 times per day, sprayed natural flea killers throughout the house, and checked Hayley incessantly. The poor thing was itchy and she had passed the critters to our three cats, one of which became allergic to the fleabites, which caused another trip to the vet.

Worst part of it all? It was my fault.

Boy Learns Food Is Made From Animals: Moves Mom To Tears

Have you ever had the discussion with your child about where meat and fish actually come from? It is usually around the toddler years, when they get to a certain age and finally grasp that animals are killed for food. And people eat them.

This little boy, Luiz Antonio, is captured on video not only realizing this but also vowing to not eat animals again. His reasons are pure, logical, and sweet:

"When we eat animals, they die. I don't like that they die. These animals...you gotta take care of them and not eat them."

Watch the two-minute video until the end...his mom is moved to tears, just as we are, too.

Matted Dog Makes Unbelievable Transformation

Honestly, when I first saw this photo, I had no idea what I was looking at. I knew it was an animal but I had to no idea where the head or tail even was: the fur on this poor thing was just that overgrown. It turns out underneath this heap of unruly fur was one sweet matted dog… and a very neglected poodle.

Named Ginger, this 14-year-old (yes, 14!) darling had been surrendered at a Texas facility by an owner who admitted they just could just not care for the dog. Too bad they hadn’t surrendered this poor pup a long time before the pooch got into this condition.

Vets at the Texas shelter say that Ginger’s teeth also suffered badly from inadequate attention and she will need extensive dental treatment as well.

Once the staff gave Ginger a much-needed trim, she emerged from the clumps of fur and showed everyone just what a sweetie she is.

Click here to see a video of how Ginger the matted dog looks now!

Pets of Valor Award

The Humane Society of the United States recently announced the top five finalists for the Pets of Valor Award. "The award celebrates the human-animal bond by honoring rescued or adopted dogs and cats who have exhibited an extraordinary sense of courage or resolve by heroically helping a person in need." 

They say a shelter dogs (and cats) know when they have been rescued and will do all they can to show their owners just how appreciative they are. Everyday we hear terrible stories about animal abuse, but also heartwarming stories about how incredibly strong animals are who have come through a desperate situation and ended up healing with the love and help of a kind hearted person. 

Each of these finalists and their owners deserve an award.... as do all who care enough to dare to rescue and help innocent dogs and cats, and other animals who need it. And these dogs and cats... well, they each deserve a medal of honor!

Here are this year's finalists (and happy ending stories!):

Keep Your Dog Safe During Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Last week's Oklahoma tornado left countless pets lost and injured. As the pet agencies do their best to help, the main priority now is to reunite lost pets with their owners.

When talking storms, the advice from the ASPCA cannot be stressed enough: “If you are not safe, neither is your pet.”

Since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted this past week that this year's hurricane season will be "somewhere between active and extremely active, with between 13 and 20 named storms", we must remember that our pets need to be included in our safety and evacuation plans.

Here are 10 must-read tips to keep your dog safe during hurricanes and tornadoes from the ASPCA: