What to Look for When Selecting a Dog From a Shelter
Posted on | November 22, 2009 | No Comments
You’ve made the big decision to get a dog. You have everything in order; you know the size dog you can handle given the size of your house/yard/apartment, you’ve purchased bowls for food and water, and, with true civil devotion, you’ve decided to get a shelter dog.
Now the real chore begins: how do you select a dog from the shelter? In some ways, your choices are going to be more limited; you won’t be able to guarantee getting a particular breed, so you don’t have to decide which breed is right for you. But at the same time, if you’re choosing between all the dogs in the shelter, you could have quite a wide variety of options, indeed.
So how do you go about selecting the perfect pup for your needs? First of all, of course, what size are you looking for? If you live in an apartment, you won’t be able to get a great dane sized dog. Know the size you’re looking for, and narrow your choices accordingly.
Second, do you have any “special needs”? For example, do you have children, other pets, or other dogs that the new family member will have to get along with? Ask shelter workers which dogs will best suit the needs of the rest of your family; in most cases, they’ll be able to tell you which dogs get along with other dogs, cats, small children, etc.
Third, don’t be in a rush. Be willing to make more than one trip to the shelter, to spend time with the dogs there and to develop a bond with the one dog you think you can spend the next ten or fifteen years of your life with.
The first couple of trips, you may want to spend time with several dogs; shelter workers are usually glad to make it easy for you to spend time with dogs individually. On the third trip, you may narrow it down to one, perhaps two dogs that you want to get to know better. Don’t take a dog home until you’re certain it’s the right one for you; all too often, pet owners make snap decisions because a dog is cute, and the dog ends up right back at the shelter in a matter of months or even weeks.
Finally, involve your kids, if you have them, in the selection process. Let them come with you and spend time with each dog, as well. Their word should never be final, but do listen to them and get input from them about which dog they think you should take home. After all; a new dog is a member of the whole family–not just a part of it.
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Another Shelter Appreciation Week Sweetie – Meet Twinkle
Posted on | November 6, 2009 | No Comments
Yesterday Twinkle the Cat donated 2 big boxes of wish list items to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. We donated the following:
Bath & Hand Towels
Baby Blankets
Dog Treats
Dog & Cat Toys
Poop Bags
Ink Pens
Staples
Paper Clips
Rubber Bands
Note Pads
Calculator
Flashlight
Twinkle was adopted on February 4th 2008 from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.
Friday’s Rescue Challenge Winner
Posted on | November 6, 2009 | 1 Comment
Thanks to everyone who has been sharing how you’re celebrating National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.
As you all know, Big Paw Designs , Romeo the Cat and Peoplepets.com teamed up to encourage everyone to find ways to celebrate our local rescues and shelters and to let them know how much we love and appreciate all they do! So do anything you can – no matter how big or small – to show them you care.
We wish the week lasted longer because there are so many people we want to showcase who are doing awesome things. There are two wonderful people we wanted to tell you about who are gearing up for some great activities this weekend.
Vicki Boatright, an artist in Canton, Ohio (and twitter@brewksiebutt’s mom), is opening up her art studio tonight for Canton’s monthly First Friday gallery walk event. Tonight she is doing something special and hosting her local rescue, Friends of the Pound of Stark County, and some adoptable dogs in her studio during the gallery walk. Brewskie is not that excited about having dogs in his staff’s studio but he’ll tolerate it for the good of the animals.
Cody Keith, of Cody Keith Design in Austin, Texas, and a team of friends and colleagues are rallying together to help rebuild Centex Humane Society in Killeen, Texas, whose facility was recently devastated by a fire. Cody and his friends are also helping solicit donations and volunteers and are working on a design idea for a memorial for the pets that were lost in the fire.
Countless others of you volunteer and donate on a regular basis and support and cheer on our wonderful shelters and rescues all the time. I want to recognize your ongoing efforts too!
Together we can make a difference. Thank you all for participating and reading and for your continued support of animals.
Day 4 of the Rescue Challenge!
Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments
Thanks for all of the great and amazing stories of how you’re celebrating National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.
As you all know, Big Paw Designs has teamed up with Romeo the Cat and Peoplepets.com to encourage everyone to find ways to celebrate our local rescues and shelters and to let them know how much we love and appreciate all they do! So do anything you can – no matter how big or small – to show them you care.
Jessi Sensabaugh of Lynchburg, VA is hand knitting soft comfy pet beds for A Place to Bark , in Portland, TN. Jessi, who is cat mom to Kitty and Tripsie, says she is going to send along food and other supplies as well.
What a wonderful way to give! I am sure those sweet animals will appreciate cozy little hand knit beds and they are sure to be very popular nap spots!
What are YOU doing this week to appreciate your shelter? Send your story to romeo@romeothecat.com, along with a photo, and you might be featured too! Every day, we’re selecting a winner to win a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker, courtesy of Big Paw Designs.
Shelter Challenge – Day 3!
Posted on | November 4, 2009 | No Comments
Great stories continue to come in from readers about how you’re celebrating National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.
Big Paw Designs, Romeo the Cat and Peoplepets.com have teamed up to encourage everyone to celebrate our local rescues and shelters let them know how much we love and appreciate all they do! So do anything you can – no matter how big or small – to show them you care.
Artist Patrice De Avila of Portland, Oregon and mom to Bubba, Pinkerton and Loki is thinking “outside the cat box” and donating artwork to the Harlequin Great Dane Rescue to sell or auction as a fundraiser.
She is also donating the design and printing costs of business cards to her favorite cat rescue, Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue.
She’s pledged to spend the week educating her not-so-involved friends and relatives about the week’s events and how they can help.
Finally, Patrice is extremely generous and donates to animal rescue on the 5th and 20th of every month. This month she said she’ll donate double on the 5th in honor of this special week.
Wow! Those are some wonderful things to do and great ideas for everyone to consider.
What are YOU doing this week to appreciate your shelter? Send your story to romeo@romeothecat.com, along with a photo, and you might be featured too! Every day, we’re selecting a winner to win a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker, courtesy of Big Paw Designs.
Day 2 of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!
Posted on | November 3, 2009 | No Comments
As you know, We’ve teamed up with Romeo the Cat and Peoplepets.com to encourage everyone to celebrate our local rescues and shelters let them know how much we love and appreciate all they do! So do anything you can – no matter how big or small – to show them you care.
We’ll be featuring your stories of kindness and giving here on our blog, the Romeo blog, our Rescuepower blog and on Peoplepets.com.
Wow! You guys are amazing. We cannot believe all of the wonderful things you’re doing to support and appreciate your local shelters – from delivering dog food to blankets to fostering. AH-MAZING!
Today’s featured “do-gooder” is Dr. V., a veterinarian in sunny San Diego, California who blogs at Pawcurious . She has pledged to do a 24-hour Blog-a-thon this weekend, from Friday evening until Saturday afternoon. Proceeds from the event will benefit her local shelter, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.
She’s going to do one blog post an hour and her sponsors and donors will be eligible to win fun prizes throughout the event. And, the best news is she’s a very entertaining writer so she’ll definitely be able to keep everyone interested for the whole 24-hours!
So mark your calendars and go support Dr. V. this weekend!
What are YOU doing this week to appreciate your shelter? Send your story to romeo@romeothecat.com, along with a photo, and you might be featured too! Every day, we’re selecting a winner to win a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker, courtesy of us here at Big Paw Designs.
Today’s Rescue Challenge Winner
Posted on | November 2, 2009 | No Comments
Happy National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week! This week, November 1-7, is time to show our local rescues and shelters how much we love and appreciate all they do! So do anything you can – no matter how big or small – to show them you care.
We’ll be featuring your stories of kindness and giving all week on www.romeothecat.com, at the Big Paw Designs Blog, on the Rescue Power blog and on Peoplepets.com. Send your story to romeo@romeothecat.com, along with a photo, and you might be featured too!
Every day, we’re selecting a winner to win a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker, courtesy of Big Paw Designs.
Today’s story of giving is about Boris Kitty and his siblings Edgar and Bella from Pennsylvania.
Boris and his family kicked off Animal Shelter Appreciation Week by sending Edgar out to Trick or Treat for cat goodies for their local rescue, Berks County Animal Rescue League in Berks County, PA.
Boris tells us that Edgar got lots of treats from Halloween but that they all gave up their “kitteh allowances” so their humans could supplement their Trick or Treat loot with food and blankets that the rescue desperately needs.
Boris and his team are sending their staff to drop off the goodies at the rescue this week.
Way to go, Boris!
You can read more about Boris’ adventure at his blog, http://www.boriskitty.blogspot.com.
Enter the Rescue Challenge this week!
Posted on | November 1, 2009 | 1 Comment
This week, November 1-7, is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. All of us pets here at Big Paw Designs and our partners at Romeo the Cat (Romeo & Pugsley) and I are asking all of YOU to show your local shelter or rescue how much you appreciate them by donating your time, money, support or goods. It can be as simple as donating a bag of dog food, taking them your extra old towels or playing with kittens for an hour. The point is to do something. Many of you do things on a regular basis anyway so tell us about what you do to support them and that certainly counts too.
We all know the wonderful people who work and volunteer at shelters work their tails off day in and day out. We often take them for granted so let’s show them our appreciation!
Our challenge to you is to go do something between now and November 7th and then email us about it. Romeo the Cat and the the big paw blog and our rescue blog will feature all of your good deeds every day.
And, in addition to featuring you, all submissions will be entered into a daily drawing for your choice of a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker.
Imagine what we can all do if we each do a little bit. We are so excited to feature all of your wonderful activities.
So give back to your local community, however small or large, and give yourself a paw high five!
Happy Howloween! Save 20% today only
Posted on | October 31, 2009 | No Comments
Happy Howloween! Save 20% on anything from http://www.bigpawdesigns.com today only. Enter coupon code HOWL09 at checkout for discount to apply.
About Big Paw Designs:
Since 2002 we have made dogs hip, cats cool and pet lovers pleased. We invite you to shop online for our unique selection of collar charms, pet jewelry, dog jewelry, dog charms, dog gifts, cat gifts, pet lover gifts, earrings, key chains, magnets, bumper stickers, pet picture frames and more that are designed and made in the USA.
Tags: coupons > howloween > Pet Gifts & Supplies > Pets - General > sale
Shelter Appreciation Week – Do your part!
Posted on | October 27, 2009 | No Comments
Next week, November 1-7, is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. All of us pets here at Big Paw Designs and our partners at Romeo the Cat (Romeo & Pugsley) and I are asking all of YOU to show your local shelter or rescue how much you appreciate them by donating your time, money, support or goods. It can be as simple as donating a bag of dog food, taking them your extra old towels or playing with kittens for an hour. The point is to do something. Many of you do things on a regular basis anyway so tell us about what you do to support them and that certainly counts too.
We all know the wonderful people who work and volunteer at shelters work their tails off day in and day out. We often take them for granted so let’s show them our appreciation!
Our challenge to you is to go do something between now and November 7th and then email us about it. Romeo the Cat and the the big paw blog and our rescue blog will feature all of your good deeds every day.
And, in addition to featuring you, all submissions will be entered into a daily drawing for your choice of a Rescue Mom or Rescue Dad car magnet or sticker.
Imagine what we can all do if we each do a little bit. We are so excited to feature all of your wonderful activities.
So give back to your local community, however small or large, and give yourself a paw high five!
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