50 Shelters - 50 States: Connecticut

Hi, everyone ... MP here, with the latest 50-50 post.  We're back on the East coast today, in the state of Connecticut, and I'd like to introduce you first to Bruno ...

Bruno is a gorgeous young adult AmStaff mix who is in urgent need of a foster home or a permanent placement with a loving family.  Could it be yours?  Bruno gets along well with both dogs and cats.  Though no details are provided, his shelter writeup alludes to his having had a difficult past and it is stressed that in his new home Bruno will need the appropriate stimulation, lots of exercise, and most importantly, consistency, which, let's face it, is something that's important for all dogs, particularly rescue dogs.  They need structure and a routine to build their new lives upon.  For more information on Bruno, to request an application to adopt him or schedule a meet and greet to see this gorgeous boy in person, please email the kind folks at Meriden Humane Society in Meriden, CT at meridensociety@sbcglobal.net

Bruno sure looks like a doll, and deserves to have someone to call his very own.  Is that someone you? We hope so - and if not, we hope you'll spread the word about Bruno and help him find his way to his forever home!

And now ... meet Libby ...

Libby is an adult domestic shorthaired tabby with beautiful green eyes.  Her shelter writeup states that she is very affectionate and friendly ... and desperately seeking her own loving home and a family to call her own.  If you or someone you know would like to settle down on the couch with this sweetheart purring on your lap, please contact the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington, Connecticut at 800-452-0114.  You can also email them at info@cthumane.org or visit their website

Well, that's it for this installment.  Next stop ... Delaware.  See you next time ... and don't forget to send us a comment if you want to see a shelter in your state featured.

Arizona Residents ... and a word from the MP

Good morning, all!

As you have likely surmised from Tanner's post a bit earlier this morning, I am going to be away for a few days, taking part in what started out as a road trip with a friend and has turned into an impromptu rescue mission.  More about that later ...

Leaving the kids is always a bit difficult - no matter how much I am anticipating a trip, it's always a little (or a lot) wrenching to leave them.  Oftentimes (most times, actually), the dogs can come along, and when that is possible, it does make things a bit easier, though I still hate leaving the cats to be "sat on" as they would put it.  I have every faith in the caretaker I am leaving in charge, or else I wouldn't be going, but nonetheless, I naturally feel that no one can care for them as well as I can.  Also, I will miss them horribly, and though I don't delude myself into thinking that they will be moping around and dejected in my absence, (nor would I WANT them to be!), I do know that they miss me.  Further, the routine preparation for a trip always elicits some tension in the crew.  The dogs walk the line between excitement and anxiety, as they know full well that sometimes they get to come along, and sometimes they don't, so they don't quite know how to react.  The cats are different.  They know I'm leaving, and they know that they're not coming along, nor would they want to even if I offered, I don't think, and it naturally breeds some unease. 

Now ... moving on.  The next state to be featured in the

 ..... is Arizona!

So at this time, I'd like to again ask for feedback from anyone out there from Arizona who's reading this!  Please send me a comment and let me know which shelter in your state you'd like to see featured.  The kids and/or I may or may not be blogging in my absence, but when I return, I'll be continuing the 50/50 by choosing a dog and a cat from a city or county shelter in Arizona.  See you all then!

50 Shelters ... 50 States

Hi, everybody.  It's the "Mom Person" again.

As this blog enters approximately its fifth month of existence, and prompted somewhat by the Pet Blogger Challenge of a month or so ago, I have been pondering the future of the blog and what goals I have for it, both short and long term.  As well, I was inspired, as I often am when reading this particular blog, to hear that back in October, when I was still very new in BlogLand, Kristine at Rescued Insanity had helped find a home for a homeless shelter dog as the result of her Blog the Change post. When it came time for the January Blog the Change, I actually wrote one (though not about rescue), but Blogger was being particularly troublesome that day and I couldn't get the entire post to show up.  Perhaps some higher power was attempting to teach me a lesson in the virtues of brevity (good luck!) but whatever the case, after several tries, I was tired and frustrated, and so gave up.  Since then, though, I've been pondering a way that I could perhaps put the blog to some good use other than my own enjoyment, and let's face it, nothing would please me more than to see some deserving shelter dogs get wonderful homes,  And if I can play some small part in that, then I would be thrilled! 

Hence ... over the next however long it takes (obviously I can't do just one a week as that would just take FAR too long, so maybe I'll try for two or three a week), I'm going to go through each state alphabetically, and choose a shelter (and one dog and/or one cat from that shelter) to spotlight.  If I possibly can, I'll contact the shelter by phone, speak to the director or adoption coordinator, and get some more information on the animal than what is listed online. 

I think it fitting (though certainly entirely coincidental) that by virtue of the alphabet, the first featured state is Alabama.  The southern states statistically have far more animals being euthanized in shelters than the northern states - and in fact, there are a few different rescue organizations whose purpose it is to pull dogs from the sadly overburdened shelters in southern states and place them for adoption in the northeast, as seen in the Animal Planet series, Last Chance Highway. 

I also have an artist friend working on a badge for me, so that if anyone else wants to participate, they can do so, and put the badge on their blog.  If you don't want to participate, but do want to suggest a shelter that you'd like featured in your particular state, then that's great, too, and I'll certainly take those suggestions or requests under advisement. 

And so, tomorrow .... Alabama.  I already have a dog picked out and just need to place a call to Huntsville Animal Services to get the scoop on my dog of choice.  Have to pick out a cat next.

Have a great day, everyone!

The Story of Me ...

Happy Day Before Thanksgiving, everyone! It's me, Tucker!

Let me start out by first thanking my new pal, Pip for alerting us to Minna Krebbs' The Story of Me contest. 

I think the timing of this contest is particularly apropos, since it was almost exactly seven years ago that I became part of my family.  At the time, the family in question was my mom and my brother, Dakotah.  Dakotah isn't with us anymore, and now I have all these little brothers and sisters to look after.  Although Olivia and I are pretty close in age, and she does help me a little bit with keeping everyone in line.  Anyway ...

THE STORY OF ME

Like that of many rescued dogs, my story has something of a sad beginning.  When Mom found me, I was only about ten months old, and had been abandoned by my previous people.  Who can say why those people decided not to keep me?  I don't even really remember them.  But I do remember that for months after I came to live with Mom, I would whimper and shiver and shake in my sleep, and even when I was awake I would sometimes get really scared and go hide under the bed.  I never hid from Mom, though ... she and I bonded instantly, and even though at first I could hardly believe it, it was soon clear to me that Mom loved me an almost insane amount.  She just could not get enough of how adorable and sweet and good natured and well-behaved I was (and still am).  As for my part, it's hard not to love someone who loves you so much ... and wants to spend almost all their time spoiling you and making goo-goo eyes at you.  I figured out pretty quickly that my luck had definitely changed for the better, and I decided I was going to do whatever it took to make sure Mom would never want to ditch me like those other people did.  As if!  So yeah - call me a mama's boy if you want - I don't care. 

Now, another thing about my story is that when Mom & I got together, I was in rough shape.  Even though I am a Chinese Crested (which Mom didn't know at the time - she thought I was some sort of terrier mix - but I knew what I was the whole time), which of course is a hairless breed, I am a Powderpuff, which means I am supposed to have hair.  But back when I first came to live with Mom, most of my hairs were missing.  I didn't have hardly any hair on my body, and basically none at all on my legs and feet.  And they were all red and scaly and itchy.  So when I first came home with Mom, I had to wear boots like this: Muttluks at  night so that Mom could put this special ointment on my feet to try to heal them up.  That took awhile, and they sure were sore.  But with time and lots of pampering and love I healed up and became the handsome guy I am today.

Over the past seven years, I've been pretty busy.  I joined The Dog Training Club Of Tampa Bay , where I've participated in agility training and taken (and passed) my Canine Good Citizen Test (or CGC).  I have also gotten certified for therapy dog work with Therapy Dogs International and volunteered in the cardiac unit of a local hospital. Of course, I've also had a lot of fun, and I enjoy doing just regular dog stuff, like going for walks, going to the dog park, and dining al fresco at one of Tampa's many dog-friendly establishments.

It's a pretty good life - and all in all I have a lot to be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thanks for reading my story!