Coins for Canines!

Pet Haven was the recipient of Coins for Canines, money raised throughout the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball season. Coins for Canines was a contest where people submitted photos of their very cute pooches dressed in their Gopher best. Each photo was placed on a large water cooler jug and fans voted for their favorite photo by placing coins (and bills!) into the jugs. The money raised as part of this effort was donated to Pet Haven.

I was honored to represent Pet Haven at the Gopher Women’s Basketball game on February 25th to receive a check for Pet Haven for just under $1400! Before I received the check, Deborah Diamond, Associate Director of Marketing for the Gophers, told me the final amount would probably be a lot more since they were still counting the money. I was called onto the floor during halftime, where I was presented the big check. Jim Marshall, the Gophers announcer, introduced me with the same excitement he does for the players, which was very exciting for me and probably as close as I’ll ever come to feeling like a rock star.

The plan was for the winning dog to be announced at the end of the game. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us!) there were so many coins, that folks were still counting the money at the end of the game! Deborah emailed me the next day that the total raised was an impressive $2,266.82! Nachito, the winning dog, received roughly $600 worth of votes!

Although the Gopher Women lost the basketball game on Thursday, Pet Haven was a clear winner! Thank you to Deborah, the Golden Gophers Women’s Basketball Team, and all the fans who voted. We’ll be able to help a lot of cats and dogs!

Posted by Karen Scott, Vice-President, Pet Haven of Minnesota

Puppy/Kitten Mill Public Forum tomorrow

From the Animal Humane Society website:

Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill public forum
Golden Valley, 2/27/2010 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Senator Don Betzold and Representative Tom Tillberry to discuss Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill at public forum

Are you interested in learning more about the effort to regulate dog and cat breeders in Minnesota to stop inhumane practices in this industry? Join us on Saturday, February 27, 2010, for a public information session on the Dog and Cat Breeder Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253), also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill, with Minnesota Senator Don Betzold and Minnesota Representative Tom Tillberry who authored and introduced the bill in the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

Learn firsthand about the bill and its importance to the welfare of thousands of neglected animals in the State of Minnesota.
Understand how requiring licensing and inspections of breeding facilities in the state will protect animals from breeders engaging in inhumane breeding practices.

Arm yourself with information on how you can be a voice for animals and let others know what they can do.
Join us:

11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 27, 2010
Animal Humane Society, Auditorium
845 Meadow Lane North, Golden Valley

Reservations are not required, but seating is limited. For more information, please email animaladvocates@animalhumanesociety.org.

Meals on Wheels...for Pets!

Hungry pets in on Minneapolis community can now receive food and medical care thanks to an innovative partnership.

The Northeast (Minneapolis) Dinnerbell, Inc. Meals on Wheels program has received grants from the Banfield Charitable Trust.  Along with donations made by Banfield customers, the W.A.L.O.P. (We All Love Our Pets) program is able to provide food and animal wellness checks for the senior citizens served by the Meals on Wheels program.  They also take donations from other members of the public.

Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to seniors.  It's wonderful that needs of animals and humans are being met by this program.  To see photos of some of the client animals, click here.

Adopted Dog Update Monday

None of our fine pooches was adopted this past week, so I thought I would give you a little update on the two Pet Haven alumnae that I know best because I adopted them:  Rusty and Luna.

Rusty came into my household three years ago today.  He was a nine-almost-ten year old Golden/Lab whose family was moving and didn't want to take him along.  His first foster home was in a townhouse and Rusty did way too much nervous barking for him to stay there, so I brought him home with me.  In my outer suburban neighborhood, the houses are far enough apart that even if a dog barks his head off, no one can hear as long as the windows are closed and it was February.   And bark he did.  If he didn't get attention.  If I left the room.  If the other two dogs got too close.  If they left him alone.

Rusty is a highly sociable boy and attracted admirers at our adoption events, but they all said the same thing:  he's too old. A typical comment was, "I just put my 10 year old lab down, and I don't want to go through that again soon".

Well, he's here to tell you that three years later, he's still going strong.  So there!

Here he is modeling the beautiful sweater he bought from Laura Leonard of Rescue Buddy Boarding and Beyond.  Sweaters in all sizes are hand-knit by Laura and her mom.  Profits go to support Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

Luna, the German Shepherd puppy, at just seven months old finished Obedience I at The Canine Coach last night.   Her goal is to get the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificate and then possibly become a Therapy Dog, but she realizes that she needs to settle down a bit first.  She feels that the reason for attending the class is to play with the other dogs, and it's hard to do that when she is held firmly by a leash.  She is smart and attentive, though, so when the puppy energy dissipates, she'll be a star.

Here's she's playing with her favorite toy, two tennis balls strung together!

All Dogs Great and Small...

...will be at our adoption event tomorrow, Saturday, February 20.   We usually have two events, one for medium and large dogs and one for the small dogs, but this week they will all be in one fine location.

Location:  Richfield Petco

Time:  10 am to noon

Who's Invited:  You!

Progress Report: Puppy Mill Girls

Susie and Daisy continue to do well in their foster home.  The two are inseparable.  Our 'pipe dream' is that they could be adopted together, but when they are ready for their forever homes they will likely need to go their separate ways.

For now, they are enjoying life together and keeping each other warm in this seemingly endless winter.

Getting Involved

Here's an upcoming opportunity to learn more about proposed Puppy & Kitten Mill legislation.  Learn what is in this bill and how you can help.

Senator Don Betzold and Representative Tom Tillberry to discuss Puppy & Kitten Mill Bill at public forumAre you interested in learning more about the effort to regulate dog and cat breeders in Minnesota to stop inhumane practices in the industry? Join us on Saturday, February 27, 2010, for a public information session on the Dog and Cat Breeder Bill (S.F. 7/H.F. 253), also known as the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill, with Minnesota Senator Don Betzold and Minnesota Representative Tom Tillberry who authored and introduced the bill in the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

• Learn firsthand about the bill and its importance to the welfare of thousands of neglected animals in the State of Minnesota.
• Understand how requiring licensing and inspections of breeding facilities in the state will protect animals from breeders engaging in inhumane breeding practices.
• Arm yourself with information on how you can be a voice for animals and let others know what they can do.
  

Join us:11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 27, 2010
Animal Humane Society, Auditorium
845 Meadow Lane North, Golden ValleyReservations are not required, but seating is limited. For more information, please emailanimaladvocates@animalhumanesociety.org.
Golden Valley | 845 Meadow Lane North, Golden Valley, MN 55422 | 763-522-4325
St. Paul | 1115 Beulah Lane, St. Paul, MN 55108 | 651-645-7387
Woodbury | 9785 Hudson Road, Woodbury, MN 55125 | 651-730-6008
Coon Rapids | 1411 Main Street NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 | 763-862-4030
Buffalo | 4375 Highway 55 SE, Buffalo, MN 55313 | 763-390-3647
<http://events.animalhumanesociety.org/site/R?i=FlzZXp3prtjCc9_Rn892Qw..>



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