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!