September 2008 Archives

Got this press release on the fax machine! Unfortunately I'm unable to embed the video here, but CLICK HERE to watch the PSA!!

LA Animal Services is proud to announce that a PSA featuring Tony LaRussa, General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, and produced by Cheri Shankar and LA Animal Services Commissioner Kathy Riordan, explaining LA's new spay/neuter law will run prior to every movie shown on each screen at the following movie theatres through Jan. 2, 2009.

Participating theatres are:

Mann Plant (Van Nuys)
7876 Van Nuys Blvd.,
Van Nuys
(818) 779-0323

Mann Chinese 6
6801 Hollywood Blvd.,
Hollywood.
(323) 464-8111

Mann Grauman's Chinese
6925 Hollywood Blvd.,
Hollywood
(323) 464-8111

So go see a movie with your friends so that they can all know about the importance of spaying and neutering. It's even more important now that it's the law (starting Oct. 1, 2008)

Got this in my email and yes I'm too lazy to type up my own version so here's the press release! LOL!!

DAYTON, OHIO (Sept. 25, 2008) Propelled by a decade of success and having placed more than 2 million pets into homes since it began in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays launches its annual adoption program and announces the campaign's most aggressive goal to date, which is to find loving homes for at least 1 million animals between Oct. 1, 2008 and Jan. 5, 2009. To bring greater awareness of and help curb pet homelessness, Iams Home 4 the Holidays has teamed with award-winning actress Felicity Huffman to serve as its North American Ambassador. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays harnesses the power of nearly 3,000 worldwide animal organizations in a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption.

Because there are millions or orphaned pets around the world, with as many as 8 million* in the U.S. alone, Iams Home 4 the Holidays is working with Huffman to inspire others to open their hearts and homes to an orphaned pet during this adoption drive. Motivated by her own pet adoption experience, Huffman adopted her black Labrador mix, Tucker, as a puppy from a Los Angeles rescue group in 2006, she is committed to helping educate people about the amazing animals in shelters that are awaiting loving and committed owners. Huffman is encouraging people to get involved and learn more about pet adoption.

"I'm proud to be a part of Iams Home 4 the Holidays to help raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption so we can place 1 million animals in loving homes this holiday season," said Huffman. "When our family decided to get a new pet, we chose to adopt, and now, Tucker is more than a wonderful pet, he's part of our family."

By providing resources and information about participating rescues and shelters, potential pet owners are encouraged to visit animal shelters and rescues to adopt dogs, cats or other animals waiting for a home when they are considering a new four-legged family member.

"Felicity's first-hand knowledge and experience from adopting Tucker, coupled with her passion to educate people about the millions of homeless animals looking for homes, makes her an amazing ambassador and voice for Iams Home 4 the Holidays," said Dan Rajczak, General Manager, P&G Pet Care in North America. "Last year, our pet adoption drive found homes for nearly 500,000 animals, and this year, we've doubled our adoption goal. All of our partner animal organizations, including the team at Helen Woodward Animal Center and the pet passionate folks here at Iams are committed to working together to help place at least 1 million orphaned pets into new homes."

Important Facts

· There are as many as 8 million* orphaned pets in the United States.

· As many as 4 million* orphaned dogs and cats will be euthanized this year due to shelter overcrowding.

· For anyone interested in adopting a purebred dog, it;s helpful to know that more than a quarter of all dogs in animal shelters are purebreds.

· More than 15 countries participate in this adoption drive, making Iams Home 4 the Holidays one of the world's largest pet adoption programs. There are participating shelters in Canada, Iran, Australia, India, New Zealand, Iraq and more.

· Iams Home 4 the Holidays has helped more than 1,047,000 dogs, 962,000 cats and 66,000 other animals, such as rabbits, reptiles, birds and more, find homes over the past nine years.

The pet adoption campaign takes place October 1 through January 5, 2009 and anyone who adopts a dog, puppy, cat or kitten will receive an Iams Adoption Starter Kit, which includes a care guide loaded with tips and information about pet care, behavior, training and nutrition. The kit also includes the new pet's first meal as well as coupons for great savings on additional pet food, other supplies and animal health insurance.

To learn about the myriad ways to help an orphaned pet, including finding participating shelters, volunteering and making a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting new homes, visit www.Iamshome4theholidays.com.

About Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH)

As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County. Since it began more than 9 years ago, IH4TH, along with nearly 3,000 pet adoption centers, has helped more than 2 million families experience the joy of pet adoption, including nearly 500,000 pet adoptions last year alone. For more information, please visit www.iamshome4theholidays.com.

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where "people help animals and animals help people." Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.

Due to not getting around to posting much, I have accumulated a plethora of pet-related books to write about. I've been wanting to write about this particular book for awhile since I can sort of attest to mental and spiritual experiences with my pets (especially my cats). I haven't read this book but I have skimmed through it. I'm not sure if I agree with everything I've seen, but I should read the book with an open mind.

Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions: Connecting with the Spiritual Awareness of All Life by Dawn Baumann Brunke moves beyond the "how" and "why" of animal communication that she wrote about in her previous books.

Here's an excerpt from the back of the book:

Through conversations, dreams, and merged consciousness with a variety of animals and spirit beings, she reveals the vast treasure of wisdom and experiences offered to us as we open ourselves to the consciousness of others, confront and release our fears of death, and expand our sensory perception to include other modes of existence.

While skimming through this book I did come across a snippet that I could relate to (though I'm not so sure about what she delves into following this snippet).

Here's the snippet:

Isn't it wonderful how little details of life often bring us confirmations of the most unexpected sort? Although I wrote a short personal account about Barney's death and shared it with many others via e-mail, I did not tell anyone of the vision of Barney with the little girl (in her dream). The following morning, while reading through some loving e-mails from those who had known Barney, I found a note from my mom:

Hi Dawn: Thanks for sending your good-bye to Barney piece. It did help and I thank you. Still miss him terribly, though I do have thoughts/vissions/dreams of him happily trotting in the sunshine next to a little girl. So who knows _ maybe his new life? Lots of love, Mom.

In 2005 I lost my beloved Cleo in 2005, I would constantly hear, see her (in the corner of my eye), feel her next to me (I still do on occasion), and I'd dream about her knowing that she was coming to visit me to say that she was okay. Now I know that many of you are probably thinking that I should be sent to the loony bin. But I do believe that animal spirits do go somewhere and that they do have some kind of a soul. I believe in some idea of the Rainbow Bridge, but blog post on that would cause the internet to clog up and shut down...LOL!!!

okay...back to the Cleo story. Like I said...after her death, I would constantly feel her walk up to me, lay down next to me, meow, and I'd see her in dreams. Now I don't know if that's just the essence of my memories of her immediately after her death, or if it was really her. I hope that it's really her. I didn't dare tell many people (except for a friend of mine who is an expert in this stuff) for fear that they would lock me up in a mental institution.

Well lo! and behold! My mom randomly commented that she too could see and feel the spirit of Cleo walking around the house (she died while I was living with my mom) and that she has to occasionally do a double take because she thinks that Cleo is either lurking around the corner in the house or hanging around her grave site (she's buried in my mom's back yard).

Now this story does not say that we shouldn't be skeptical, but there is some truth the the spiritual and mental connection we have with the animals in our lives. Don't even make me talk about some of the telepathic experiences I've had with Marcie and the dogs that have made their presence in my life. There may be no words in the communication there's a definite understanding that can go on between you and the animals in your life. I love it when that happens.

So if you're in tune to animal communication, you might want to pick up a copy of this book. Again...I can't guarantee that it will be a quality read since I haven't fully read it myself. If anything...I love the picture on the cover because Barney (I'm assuming that must be Barney) looks allot like my Nike, who also passed away (and who I've also encountered in dreams and such).

The book retails for $16 and is available at the usually places (you know...amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble...you name it).

I thought this picture sort of fit the category...LOL!!!
WARNING!: Don't read while eating...or if you get queasy from talk of bodily functions!

As you know from this post, Marcie has had a bit of a constipation problem. And as said before, you can just imagine the result from the enema the doc gave her. Well he had to do it again and I'm really beginning to become concerned. It's mainly because of her condition (though she is moving allot more and the vet was even more impressed with her progress). The other day she really strained to defecate and nothing came out. I researched various natural remedies and came across everything from olive oil to canned pumpkin (not pie mix but plain pumpkin). I gave her a teaspoon of olive oil the night before and saw that she did something, but it was not to my satisfaction since she hadn't pooped in a few days...plus it was very hard.

So yeah...she had another lovely explosion after her enema but I bet that felt very good. As a result of this I plan on giving her a full on bath tomorrow. WISH ME LUCK!! The doctor also suggested that I put one to two table spoons of pumpkin in her food each time I feed her. I will let you know the outcome. I also ordered natural supplements from Pet Alive for constipation and Diabetes support. Hopefully those will give her a little boost.

She can wobble on all fours now but she still has a problem landing properly when she jumps off the bed. She does kind of a kitty somersault. It doesn't hurt her...I just feel so bad for her. Hopefully she'll be able to balance herself with time.

Oh...and one more WARNING!! If your dog or cat gets an enema PLEASE heed the warnings of the vet and put your pet in a special place in the house until all contents are emptied out...LOL!! I made the mistake of forgetting to do that. When the hubby and I got home we experienced a horrible stench and a lovely brown pile on our carpet. Needless to say it was "FUN" to clean up! Nature's Miracle Orange Oxy Power for Cats was definitely my friend!!!

Anyway...that's what's going on with Marcie at the moment. Keep sending those thoughts and prayers of healing.

I've been sort of out of the loop lately when it comes to reading other blogs. Sleep deprivation and stress will do that to you. But as you can tell...that's changing and I'm back in the swing of things. I just read the latest post from our sister blog Southbay Pets. Like most of the free world, I can't get away from those billboards and trailers advertising the new Disney movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua. And I couldn't help but think about the fact that when this movie comes out, an unmentionable number of parents will give into their children's demands when they want that Chihuahua for Christmas (or whatever other holiday they celebrate). Remember the consequences animals shelters faced after the release of the 101 Dalmations films? The same could happen with Chihuahuas.

That's why animal advocates pickted the movie's premier last week. First and foremost, protesters brought up the issue of puppy mills and why you should not buy chihuahuas from pet stores. And second of all, families should think hard before getting a particular breed of dog (from a shelter or breed-rescue group I might add).

According to an L.A. Unleashed post, "101 Dalmatians" led to an uptick in Dalmatian ownership. And, according to Kim Sill of Last Chance for Animals, the Taco Bell commercials featuring a Chihuahua helped create a Chihuahua craze. But when people realize the dog may not be right for them or their family --Damaltians are difficult and Chihuahuas are not always great with children --"they get dumped," says Sill.

According to the L.A. Unleashed post several of the Chihuahuas in the film were rescue dogs found in shelters in Los Angeles and Mexico. The lead dog, known in the movie as Papi --the face of the movie on all the posters around town -- was rescued from the Moreno Valley Animal Shelter and lives with his trainer.

The one thing the movie does not address is the issue of spaying and neutering. And with L.A.'s new spay/neuter law going into effect Oct. 1, people who do decide to adopt a chihuahua (or any other breed portrayed in the movie) better know if the breed is right for them as well as the laws associated with getting a new pet.

I noticed that L.A. Unleashed posted some pictures of Chihuahuas that are available at local shelters. Unfortunately I'm unable to post a photo (it won't let me download the photo) but here's a link to a cute Chihuahua that's up for adoption at the West Valley Animal Shelter: Find KC's profile HERE! His ID# is A0979853. Come and get him if you want. I'm sure he'd love to be in a good home. And of course there are plenty of other Chihuahuas up for adoption there.

I haven't posted an ABC video on awhile and I thought that it's now is a great time to post a comedic diversion to the stuff that's been going on. It's time to get back to normal (whatever normal is...LOL!!). I had to look back at the videos posted to remember which letter I'm on. It's time for the letter I. The only animal I could think of at the moment is an Iguana. So here you go!

This Iguana struts his stuff to Michael Jackson!

Oops! I just realized that there's two iguanas in the video...LOL!! What can I say? It's early as you can tell from the time stamp of this entry!

Now that things are starting to settle down in my life (let's hope it stays that way) I can finally get down to writing about some of the things that have been pending.

This is the first in what could be a series of local pet-related businesses. Not sure how that will build up...but we'll see. While the Aussie Pet Mobile Company isn't exactly local, it offers local franchises that people can start up. Greg Maton, owner of the local San Fernando Valley franchise decided to start it at around February of this year (2008). When Greg and his wife decided to start a business, they named their corporation Three Dogs Inc. after their three dogs.

A little over a month ago (before "stuff" started to happen) I moseyed on down to Topanga to witness what goes on during an Aussie Pet Mobile session. On that day I got to meet Rudy, a Wheaton Terrior, and Roxy, a Black Tibeten Terrier as well as their owner Mick Haster.

Here's Rick with Roxy (and Rudy in the background), who was going to get snipped and groomed first. With mobile pet groomers like Aussie Pet Mobile, the owners can actually see the pet while the pet is being groomed. It's also allot less stressful for the pet because it's not far away from home. "We hear stories about owners who had to leave them and they often come back very stressed out," said Greg.

Groomer Janie Davila was at the helm on this day. Janie is the franchise's head groomer and has been with them since the beginning. She had no experience in grooming, but one of the strengths of the franchise is that they have a very good training program. People who want to become groomers can take a two week training course in Orange County. She's had a couple of update programs as well. "One of the benefits of the treatment is we do take pride in our service. We don't rush it," said Greg.

The company uses a 15-step process to cleaning and grooming your pet and they use environmentally friendly products. Plus their portable Hydrobath insures that your dog or cat will feel like they're living in the lap of luxury. Here's Roxy sitting in and enjoying the Hydrobath.

And here she is taking in some hot air.

I didn't get to stay until the end but I'm sure Roxy and Rudy looked mighty fantastic when Janie was done with them.

To make an appointment by phone, call (800) PETMOBILE (800-738-6624) or to make an appointment online CLICK HERE!

All of the kittens that I rescued from my mom's neighbor got adopted. Don't know the names of the new owners but I do know that the calico kitty was adopted alone while the two brothers (Tennessee Tuxedo and Julius) were adopted together. I'm so happy about this. As soon as I get information on the adopters I'll post it here. Hopefully they will have a great life in their new homes!!!

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. On top of Marcie's medical issue I took care of a friend's dog (stayed at their house) and did some Jury Duty. Oh boy! was that "FUN" NOT!! (the jury duty part...not the dogsitting part).I nearly got on a burglary trial but was finally bumped off today. I wouldn't have minded doing it but the job only pays so much for jury duty. So you can imagine my relief at being released.

I've got so much to catch up on from pet-related books that I've received to animals that have been adopted. Don't worry...I will somehow get caught up on all the stuff I wanted to write about.

For now...here is another event to look forward to.

The International Cat Association and Purr Pourri of Cats presents "Halloween Cats." The show will feature the proverbial display of gorgeous felines from every walk of life. And I bet you that many of them will be dressed in costume. How can they not be when All Hallowed Eve is just around the corner!

Anyway...here's the pertinent info:

What: Halloween Cats Cat Show
When: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Oct. 18 and 19, 2008
Where: Arcadia Masonic Center, 50 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia

The event features 10 continuous judging rings with International judges, cat-related vendors and of course PLENTY OF CATS!!

View Larger Map

And here's a reminder for the upcoming New Leash On Life Nuts For Mutts Walk!!

I just got this fax:

The spcaLA's Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) was dispatched to Houston, TX early Saturday morning to assist with relief efforts per the request of Texas authorities. Now in position, DART will provide temporary shelter and front-line veterinary care to the animal victims of Hurricane Ike.

"Very often, our pets are what keep us going in times of crisis," says Madeline Bernststein, spcaLA President. "DART not only provides for animals, but allows their owners to breathe a sigh of relief knowing there are professionals out there looking after the safety of their pets."
The nine-member DART team reached Texas early Monday morning. spcaLA will begin to coordinate search0and0rescue as well as temporary shelter and food for pets who were left behind during Hurricane Ike.
For more information on DART and how you can donate CLICK HERE!

Marcie resting in the bath tub. I created a little sancuary there for her with blankets and pillows and such. She is sleeping like a log here. I did realize that I cannot keep her in there alone because she will climb out of it and fall to the floor.

Yes I have not posted since Monday. But I've been thinking about what to say. It's been a very challenging week as you know. And the next few weeks and months will be a trial to say the least. Things are looking somewhat up though. I cannot fully see the light at the end of the tunnel but I can feel it coming around the corner, which is something I did not feel at all last week. But I'm still being cautious. Marcie is showing little signs of improvement...not to what I want, but medical conditions always seem to take longer to heal than one would like. I recall a time when I got cellulitis in my leg. It took at least five months to go away. But that's another story.

From the day that she collapsed until last Tuesday (Sept. 9) she has been in the hospital (don't even ask about the vet bill). My regular veterinarian (Granada Veterinary Clinic in Granada HIlls) did the three-day thiamine treatment and kept her over there over the weekend. She showed little change on Monday so they referred me to an internist. I immediately left from work to drive Marcie all the way down to Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Lawndale (yes LAWNDALE!!). Dr. Hinebaugh (regular vet) talked to Dr. Jackson (the internist) about exactly what's going on with Marcie. Both Dr. Jackson and her intern were extremely helpful in explaining what might be going on with her (stroke, possible tumor in the spine, ventroflexion). If you ever need a veterinary specialist I highly recommend these people. They are far from the valley but it's well worth it if you need help with things that a general vet can't do. They told me that they could not find a tumor on xrays but it doesn't rule that out. I still had no definitive answer but they explained to me that if was a stroke she could recover fully. If it was a tumor the outcome might not be so good.

I called my regular vet back and they informed me that I might need an mri. So I scheduled one for Tuesday in Los Angeles. Once again my boss was awesome in letting me take the entire day off to go take care of things. This is not something that should wait. I cried the whole night worrying about what would happen. First I had to drive all the way to Lawndale to pick up the furry girl and talk to the doctor about how she did during the night. Dr. Jackson actually told me that Marcie was more ambulatory than she was the day before. She put Marcie in her office to see what she would do. She also explained that an MRI at this point would not be a good idea because: a) They would need to put her under anesthesia for 2 hours (not a good idea with her condition) and b) there is a possibility that it might result in a wrong diagnosis (hence I would spend all this money for nothing). So I called the MRI office to cancel. She also talked directly to my vet. I'm so glad they communicate closely so that we could determine the correct procedures. I was relieved that I did not have to do this. So I took Marcie home. Actually I took her to the house where I'm dog sitting (the friend allowed me to keep Marcie there). I also love how Dr. Jackson and her associate were so attentive to my needs and questions. They really put my mind at ease to the fact that she can be helped in some way. Just what way remained to be seen. She said that it's probably best that I take her home and take the wait-and-see approach since she's showing some progress. I completely agreed with this because the thought of putting her under for 2 hours in the condition that she's in did not sit well with me at all. I had sleepless nights over it. The doctor went over even more details but that would require me to write a blog entry the size of "War and Peace." So I'm just giving you the jist of the stuff. One thing is for sure. That is one big and beautiful veterinary hospital. If I lived closer I'd definitely take my cats there.

I talked with Dr. Hinebaugh and he determined that the Thiamine treatment might just be working (but it does not rule out other treatments). It just took awhile for it to start kicking in. Oh and I've also been giving her subcutaneous fluid injections to keep her hydrated in case she doesn't drink water on her own. I've also been squirting water in her mouth. Plus I've been feeding her wet food to give her a bit more moisture (plus it's easier to eat in her condition).

Here's where we're at:

She's able to lift up her head enough to eat on her own (when I present food to her) and BOY IS SHE HUNGRY!! Good sign...eh?

She has tried numerous times to stand up and walk on her own only to fall down a few seconds later. But hey! That's a start. You can tell that she's definitely determined to get strong again. I'm her cheering team!! And after this experience is over I bet I could get a job as a physical therapist for cats...heheh!!!

Took her to my apartment yesterday so that she could feel "AT HOME" again and I'm taking her there again today. She actually tried to climb up her scratching post. She couldn't make it all the way but she definitely tried. And she also climbed up my couch with some effort. I was so proud of her. Poor thing was exhausted afterwards.

Anyway...that's what's going on with Marcie at the moment. Let's hope we won't have to do a spinal tap. Yes that's another thing that the doctor suggested. But with the progress she's showing I don't think we'll have to do that. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh and one more thing...the following is TMI so you may want to stop right here. I was worried because Marcie had not pooped since Sunday. So I asked the doctor about that when getting her thiamine injection. He checked to see if she had stool backed up her colon by sticking his finger up her butt. Oh the poor kitty did not like that at all. She protested by growling and spitting. Yup she was constipated because there was basically no "movement" for days. So he decided to give her a kitty enema!! OH BOY!! DID IT WORK! And that's all you need to know!! Needless to say...the clean up was "fun." I bet she felt much better after that!!

I was right! The vet started Marcie on Thiamine treatments as well as a tiny amount of insulin. She's going to have to stay there for about three more days. If it's what we think it is, then she probably has Thiamine Deficiency as a result of the diabetes, which causes the Cervical Ventroflexion (man! try to remember how to pronounce that! It took me many tries...heheh). So yeah...that's where we're at right now.

I guess that's good news as I have not heard from the vet yet. I just thought I'd post a picture I took of Marcie at the vet. Sorry for the cell phone quality. She's giving me that look of...WHY?! Just keep sending prayers and positive thoughts for a speedy recovery!!

I talked with the vet today to determine what's going on and what kind of treatment we're looking at for Marcie. He determined that she may have signs of Cervical Ventroflexion. I'm not sure but I think the doctor suggested the Thiamine treatment. He ordered the medicine and it should get there by tomorrow (crosses fingers and toes). He asked if I'd rather take her to an internist that has the medication readily available but I just decided to keep her there. Why bring her all the way to a new place again?

So that's what's happening with my girl at the moment. It's a much better prognosis than the possible explosion in the head or a blood clot in the artery like the doctor originally envisioned. I guess he had to go over all the possiblities.

The emergency hospital did a battery of tests from kidney function to heart function. There were some normal outcomes and some not so normal (but that was expected with the diabetes). But still it was inconclusive as to why she went limp. They also took x-rays because they heard a minor heart gallop. He also thinks it could either be an embolism in the brain or the neck. But she seems so alert in the brain and that really puzzles me. I will find out more tomorrow. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

I'm in the process of updating some other stuff (i.e. local pet services and such), but as of this moment that is just going to have to wait. This morning I woke up at about 2 a.m. to Marcie meowing incessantly as she was slumped over on my bed. When I'd pick her up and try to stand her up she'd slump over like a ragdoll. She could barely walk. So my husband and I immediately drove her to the emergency hospital. They're not sure if it's the diabetes or her kidneys or what. Please pray that everything will be okay. She was totally fine last night. I cannot stand the thought of losing her. She is virtually my baby!!!

And it's definitely a good thing in the case of Simone kitty! Yes that's what I dubbed her (though Sandra named her Simone). Not sure if the guy that adopted her will change it or not...heheh! I'm just so glad that she has a home. I really hope that she's happy there and I hope the guy keeps in touch. She now lives in a Hollywood apartment with a single guy! Sandra posted a craigslist ad and he responded.

Good luck in your new home Simone Kitty!! I'm actually tearing up because I'll miss her. She's very sweet! The last I heard was she was hiding in his closet. Hope she gets acclimated fast to her new abode!

According to this picture, even airport security cannot be trusted and must be sniffed out!!

Anthony Stipelcovich loads up his cats at his home in Arabi, La. in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. Gay/AP
I was away this weekend so I didn't get the chance to update much. Lots of things happening on my end as you know. Some good things have happened regarding pet adoptions, but that's for another post. Last night we were watching updates on Hurricane Gustav, and I couldn't help but notice the difference in evacuation efforts to that of Katrina. I'm just so glad that people have been allowed to either bring their pets with them or arrange for separate rescue rather than leave them there. That was one thing that really got to me during Katrina. Though it still bothers me that something like the horrible mishandling of Katrina had to happen for people and governments to shape up. Pets are family! They are not just pieces of furniture that you should leave behind.

And second of all...I'm so glad that the storm is not as severe as originally thought although the gulf coast isn't completely out of the woods yet. That is definitely something to be thankful for.

Here's a wonderful article by Stephanie Gaskell of the New York Daily News.